Peace and Thanks

Peace and Thanks

Colossians 3:12-17

INTRODUCTION:

Probably the last thing we would say to describe our nation currently is Peace.

Whether that is from the Election

or

Whether that is from the Pandemic

Right now i am one of a few preachers in town who don’t have Covid-19. Some of our congregations here in town don’t even have a minster/preacher...

LET’S STOP RIGHT NOW AND PRAY FOR THE CHURCHES IN THIS COMMUNITY…And for our nation!

LET’S PRAY

When you are at peace, your heart is thankful;

When you give thanks your heart is at peace!

As I was working on this sermon this week and I kept trying to think about the phrase Peace and thank going together. There were many moments where the opportunity came for unrest to rule my day. I seriously kept thinking (and joking with the staff) this is not a good week to preach this message!!! LOL

But truthfully, it was a perfect week to preach this message…

COVID is on the rise. People are on edge. Needs are growing and growing and the biggest need is people time! But due to COVID we are losing our people time! So tattoo this on your brain…

When you are at peace, your heart is thankful;

When you give thanks your heart is at peace!

“In Colossians 3:1–4 the apostle reminds believers of their new spiritual position in Christ. We died with him, we were raised with him, and we will gloriously appear with him when he returns. Because we are united to Jesus, we should fix our hearts and minds on him (Col. 3:1–2)”

BIBLE:

Text: Colossians 3:12-17 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

When you are at peace, your heart is thankful;

When you give thanks your heart is at peace!

Peace OF Christ

Peace of Christ…THE ANOINTED! THE MESSIAH!

Maybe as believers, we have really become too comfortable with God and the things of God, so that we are really no longer stirred by HIM and HIS Presence in our lives!

(Please hear me, i don’t say this lightly)

For example:

One Sunday I had a gentlemen come up to me after the service several years ago...and what he said to me is burned into my brain…

He asked me, “What is it like to be anointed by God in your preaching?”

Honestly, I quickly dismissed his question, and slightly embarrassed gave some quick quirky reply to play it off as if it was an everyday, normal deal!

But his words wouldn’t leave me! They still haven’t left me!

I still think of those words often!

Even when I see this man, who BTW is not a member of our church!

It calls me to step into HIS Spirit as i preach and when I preach!

Because there have been too many times i have flippantly, missed the moment - the Holy Moment to preach HIS Word!

PEACE OF THE ANOINTED FROM THE ANOINTED!

NOT peace of

A Job

A Home

A my Marriage

An election

of friend

Financial peace - sorry Dave Ramsey!

THE PEACE OF CHRIST, the Anointed

HE who gives you peace!

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

The Prince of peace!

Isaiah 9:6-7 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!

Prince - Ruler, Captain, Chief

RULE in your hearts

Rule - to be an umpire, determine, control…

THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THIS GREEK WORD IS USED IN NT!

What controls your heart? Or WHO controls your heart?

Maybe even a better question: How does your heart respond in unrestful moments?

Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure, who can understand it?”

God is the RULER! Here Paul is inviting you to let the Peace OF Christ rule your heart!

Not the News,

Not the election

Not Facebook

Not Instagram

Not popular opinion

Not the Enquirer! (LOL)

Not your favorite Movie Star

Not your favorite Musician

Not even your favorite preacher…

Called to peace

Called - to call, to call aloud, utter in a loud voice, to invite 146x in NT

It is the normal word for “call” nothing out-of-the-ordinary!

But the word ‘invite’ jumped off the page to me…

Just like a call for supper!

ILL. “Dinner’s ready!”

Everyone has to decide if they will come in and join the meal!

Paul guided by the Holy Spirit, invites us into the Peace of Christ, but we have to decide if we want to come in and sit down and enjoy the meal!

When we make dinner and our children decide to join us at the table, they don’t get to bark commands at what we are serving! Also when we accept the invite into HIS peace, we don’t get to bark commands at what must take place for us to be at peace.

WE RECEIVE HIS PEACE...HIS PEACE, not our definition of peace

When you are at peace, your heart is thankful;

When you give thanks your heart is at peace!

**Therefore,

GIVE Thanks

Be Thankful

This is the only time this particular Greek word is used in the NT also

Thankful - mindful of favours (flavors - lol), grateful, thankful

With Gratitude

With Grace - that which affords (provides) joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech,

Favor - Luke 1:30 “But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary,

Giving Thanks

Paul says - no matter what you do - do it for Jesus and for HIS glory - doing so, is giving thanks to him...

Doing so - is a part of worship!

When you are at peace, your heart is thankful;

When you give thanks your heart is at peace!

CHALLENGE:

When you are at peace, your heart is thankful;

When you give thanks your heart is at peace!

What does it look like for the Peace of Christ to RULE your heart? What evidences are there?

How can you give thanks better? More frequently?

GROW:

ILL. My mother this week. I told her, she should buy a lottery ticket because of the way her week went! Actually, I also told her to pray for me!

Wednesday - a lady in line in front of her and the grocery store bought her groceries.

Thursday she called me again and said - you will never believe what just happened…and she began to tell me about her neighbors…They raked her leaves!

That gave me peace - they gave peace by serving!

Maybe you need an assignment to do something for the glory of God for someone other than yourself!