the peace and joy needed now

Introduction:

we are living in a very uncertain time… day by day new things are being changed and people are afraid...

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our freedoms are seemingly being limited and as an American that scares us all, gets us worried, and takes away our peace of mind…

but the truth is peace, at least real peace, has nothing to do with these things… real peace has to do with a persons standing with god and as believers we have the ability to walk in peace with god daily no matter the outside influences

and peace with god is the real foundations on which all other peace is based

if their is no peace with god then their is no peace in life

our sin put at us war with god, but the work of christ can reconcile us to the father through the sacrifice of the cross

because christ in his work took the penalty for our sin unto himself and created a path to peace between man and god

and if i am honest i think we have lost sight of what real peace is....

we think its in the comforts of our freedoms as Americans, we think its in our fast food restaurants or our conveniences, we think it is about stuff...

and so many have taken to social media and other outlets to discuss their opinions of whats going on and often they have done so very rudely and shown what little peace they have about this situation

but the peace we as christians have is what the world needs right now...

and like the old children's song tells us not to do we have taken our light (or peace) and hid it behind a bushel where none can see it

we have acted more like the world than the church we are called to be...

christ died for the church and real freedom comes from the shackles of sin being taken off by the salvation offered in christ...and with that comes real peace, real joy, and real security

and with that comes real peace

lets look at the text together:

I. Peace (27)

John 14:27 KJV 1900

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

the word peace here means more than just freedom from trouble… it means experiencing the highest good, enjoying the very best, and possessing the inner joy that can only come from the father...

it means a wholeness and a soundness, it means prosperity (not in a monetary standpoint but from a spiritual standpoint)

A. this isn’t the peace of the world here...

it isn’t about escaping, it isn’t about avoiding trouble, its not about refusing to face things...

this isn’t a peace that seeks pleasure or personal satisfaction

this is not a peace of positivity, or of self esteem, or denial of truth

B. this is the peace of god given to man through christ

its a deep peace from within

a tranquil mind, a calm composure in troubled times

its that ability to see confusion and trouble and say it will be ok

this deep peace is more than feeling, more than attitude, and more than though … its a real peace

its a peace that overcomes

its completly independant of conditions and enviornments

it is a peace that no anger, no danger, no suffering, or no experience can take away from you

again its an overcoming peace… a real peace

its a peace of intimacy with god

it settles you because of the relationship it brings with it

calms the mind, strengthens the will, and establishes the heart...

again its a peace born of a relationship with the father… its a real peace

C. and we have to see the source fo the peace

peace is always born of reconciliation...

and the work of reconciliation was done on the cross for man by Christ

now i said all that to say this: man only gets peace in the following way

by justification

Romans 5:1 KJV 1900

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

by prayer to god

Philippians 4:6–7 KJV 1900

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

ph 4

by being spiritually minded

Romans 8:6 KJV 1900

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

think what you want and how you want, but peace cannot be found in anything but god

in todays world we seek peace in drugs, drinking, things, people, and our American freedoms...

in the church we seek peace by doing things, by following rules, and by trying to earn favor with god....

but the absolute truth is without christ we will never have peace in our lives or hearts

II. Joy (28-29)

John 14:28–29 KJV 1900

Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

now i think we would all agree that the death and resurrection of christ a central truth of the christian faith...

JC RYLE said “CHRISTS DEATH IS THE GRAND PECULIARITY OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION”

and what he was saying is that other religions have laws, and precepts and moral checklists you have to go through

but as christians we have the cross and the work that has been done by our savior for us and then in us once we accept his work

and we should have joy in that!!!

A. the return of jesus to the father should cause us joy....

the cross of christ attracts us and causes men to rejoice in salvation

once we see the truth of the cross we can rejoice in the work of the cross and the deliverance from sin, death, and hell

John 12:32 KJV 1900

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

salvation isn’t about what we did, its about what he did....

he died so we wouldn’t have to and he took wrath so we could bypass it...

the death and resurrection are the sources of their new life and hope for eternity

its not in formal church services or pretentious dress standards

its about the work of christ in man that happened on the cross....

its about the joy that brings to the saved

B. the greatness of our god should cause believers to rejoice...

the father took the son home where he had come…

he restored him to his seat of glory and exalted him above every name that is named....

we should be overjoyed even during this time in the strength, power, and glory of our great god… in his sovereignty

our savior has overcome the world, he has conquered the flesh for us, he is stronger than the devil, and he is our escape from the shackles of sin

1 peter

1 Peter 1:8–9 KJV 1900

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

our faith is confirmed in the son....

the claims of christ were proven and verified.... everything he said would happen did happen...

he did leave (he died); he did return (resurrected); he did go to the father (ascension) and he did send the holy spirit (pentacost)

look at what he said in

John 15:11 KJV 1900

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

he is calling for our joy to be full.... not to be a joyless people....

Conclusion:

so all that means what?

it means if we are saved or if we have trusted christ as our personal savior then we can have peace and we can have joy.... real peace and real joy

a real joy that can’t be explained and a real peace that can’t be measured

it means if you’re not saved or if you have not accepted jesus as your personal savior you have no peace and no joy in this time...

but if you’ll let me i can show you who is the bringer of peace the the bringer of joy...

i can introduce you to the savior… and you can have a joy and a peace that will never leave and not be dependent on the world and on anything but the savior