How To Obtain Peace

If I took a poll, of both lost people and Christian people, and ask, “what is the one thing you desire most in our daily lives”, many would say “peace”

So why do we not have it, like we would like it, it our lives?

We as a culture, a people, encounter conflict so often that we have learned to expect it

Countries are waging wars against one another

We have personal conflicts with our friends and family

As Christians we are right in the middle of a war against good and evil

Face it…its a part of life

Christ tells us we will face conflict

John 16:33 (ye shall have tribulation)

So, how can we have peace?

First, what is peace?

The dictionary defines it as harmony, a state of reconciliation

But, what is the worlds idea of peace?

No war, no conflict

But that is not peace

Lets look again at John 16:33

If peace is a life without conflict then what is it Jesus is saying

He says, “we will have conflict”

And, “may we have peace”

Peace is not the absence of conflict

Peace is harmony and being in a state of reconciliation during times of conflict

In the beginning when God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the garden of eden, the idea was for them to live and have dominion over th plants and animals and to commune with Him

This was the way God intended things to be

Then, sin entered the world

From that point on man would face hardships and conflicts, but it didn’t mean we could not have peace (I mean true peace)

So how does this happen? How do we achieve “true peace”?

Paul tells us that certain things Must take place to obtain true peace

I. Philippians 4:4 (rejoice)

We must get right with God and rejoice

Wasn’t it like this with Adam and Eve in the beginning?

They lost peace when they hid from God

As long as we resist God we can not know peace

Running from the call to preach for me is a good example

Do we ever hide from God?

That’s why Jesus came and died, to restore peace and give us salvation

When we submit to God’s Lordship then we have taken our first step to true peace.

II. Philippians 4:5 (must show moderation to all)

Moderation = gentleness (gentle behavior)

Not everything or everyone we come in contact with will try and accommodate us in our goal for true peace

Romans 12:8 Paul says that we must do everything in our power to be peacemakers

Matthews 5:9 Jesus says, “blessed are the peacemakers”

We must pursue peace in our hearts

Don’t go out and try to make the situation worse

Why do we have shocks on our cars?

They make for a smoother ride

We must become like shock absorbers in order to find true peace

I’m not the type that likes to give a little during some situations

My dad always said I think I have to have the last word

III. Philippians 4:6 (prayer and supplication)

We must overcome worry and anxiety

Paul says, “in order to do that we must pray”

He is not talking about falling on our knees in desperation

The kind of prayer we need is to fill our hearts and our minds with God

We must let God Soak in

Let our hearts and minds soak up all that God has for us

Then, we must petition to God and tell Him exactly whats on our minds

He already knows our hearts but He wants to hear us confess it before Him

We must face the problem

Then, we must trust in Him

If we do these things, then…

IV. Philippians 4:7 (obtain true peace)

We often want peace but we don't want to do what God tells us we need to do to obtain in

Its not a quick fix

We must be obedient to God

It starts with us regardless of who else is involved

Just because we may be distraught or face with conflict doesn’t mean we can’t have true peace

This peace can only come from God

We must:

1. Get right with God

2. Show gentleness to all

3. Pray and fill our hearts and minds with God

Then, we can have peace amid-st conflict

No matter what we face we can live in peace…

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