The Joy of Peaceful Living
Notes
Transcript
God’s peace fills our hearts as we pray continually, think truthfully, and live consistently.
Pray Continually (vv. 4-7)
Pray Continually (vv. 4-7)
Don’t Worry, Be Praying!
The disciples out on the boat with Jesus asleep - Peace be still!
Martha cared and troubled about many things - sit at his feet.
Be always in a state of communion with the Lord. Start the day with prayer and ask the Lord to show you how to pray as He wants you to.
Bring your requests and needs before the Lord.
The LORD IS NEAR! Don’t despair of him hearing your petition.
Pray with thanksgiving. This is faith, realizing that God has answered your prayer in the past and will provide for your present need. Thank HIM!
Prayer produces peace in the life of the believer. It takes time, setting aside distractions in order to meet with the Lord.
“What a friend we have in Jesus”
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
As we Pray God guards our heart. Paul was chained to a soldier day and night, but his mind was under guard by the Lord!
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Not stoic fatalism, but sincere faith in God.
Think Truthfully (v 8)
Think Truthfully (v 8)
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.
What you believe will determine how you act.
Think about these things:
True - God’s Word is true. It defines reality for us, because God is Truth. ().
He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart;
Honorable - worthy of admiration and respect. We live in a world that likes to tear down what is honorable and replace it with what is dishonorable. However, the believer looks for the value and honor in people, because we serve a Lord who is worthy of all honor and glory.
Just - righteous. In proper relationship to God. Think upon things as they are in right relationship with God and His will.
Pure - without blemish. Don’t watch or listen to worldly movies that glorify the flesh or black magic. Set your mind on what is pure before God.
Give examples:
Lovely - The is no one more lovely than the Savior. The world has been filled with His creative handiwork that demonstrates his loving care and provision. Let things that are beautiful direct your attention to the work of the Lord. Earth is but his footrest.
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!
Psam 84:1
Commendable, a good report, admirable.
“A lie can travel halfway around the globe while the truth is putting its boots on.” Twain
Seek out that which is worthy of praise and focus upon it.
If there is anything of excellence or praiseworthy think on these things.
The source for all of this is God and as we see Him we will see his character reflected in the world around us.
Live Consistently (v 9)
Live Consistently (v 9)
God’s peace in our life is a result of living according to His will and fulfilling His purposes and design.
As we apply the Scripture under the leadership of the Holy Spirit then our life will be filled with with His peace.
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Heb