Peace is With Us

Welcome

Happy Sunday. Welcome to Celebration. We are so glad that you are here with us today. Whether you are a first time guest or you’ve been a part of the family for some time now, I pray that you and your family and community are doing well. Please let us know that you are here with us by engaging with us on social media. Share your posts with us and if this time together in anyway encourages you, please consider sharing it with your family and friends. I believe there is no such thing as coincidence, you are here for a reason. Let’s lean in and grab a hold of everything that God has for us today.

Series Recap

Last week we started our series Immanuel: God with Us. It is based on

Isaiah 7:14 CSB

14 Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.

Some of the things we established is that the arrival of Christ was and is a necessity. People held on to the idea of the Messiah. He gave them hope and permission to dream. He does the same thing for us today. Jesus gives us hope and permission to dream for the future. Remember this, because God is with us, who He is is with us. What He does is with us.

Be encouraged, that when God is with us, salvation is with us. I want to continue in our study by looking at Mark 4:35-41.

Scripture

Mark 4:35–41 CSB

35 On that day, when evening had come, he told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the sea.” 36 So they left the crowd and took him along since he was in the boat. And other boats were with him. 37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher! Don’t you care that we’re going to die?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 And they were terrified and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”

Today I want to talk to us about the presence of God. I’ve entitled todays message, Peace is With You.

Prayer

Lord, we are thankful for these moments where we can gather in your name. I pray over the next few moments that you speak to us. We invite your Spirit to inspire us, challenge us, encourage us. I decrease and surrender every aspect of this message to you. Give us open eyes, ears and hearts. In the name of Jesus, Amen!

Definition of Peace

The concept of peace likely generates a variety of images in our mind. Some of us picture a vacation destination. Others, sitting relaxed on a couch with a blanket and book, means peace. Yet, for some, it is a state of mind. Tranquility. Fact is, "Peace" is a very common word in English, that means different things to different people. Modern dictionaries define peace as freedom from disturbance; tranquility; no war or war has ended. It's also a very important word in the Bible that refers not only to the absence of conflict but also to the presence of something else. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word for peace is shalom. In the New Testament the Greek word is Eirene. The basic meaning is to be complete or whole. I want us to think of a structure, a wall and image it without any missing pieces. That is shalom. Or imagine going through your favorite drive through and getting home and realizing that something is missing. That is the opposite of peace, the opposite of shalom because something is missing.

Shalom also refers to our well being. When David visits his brothers on the battlefield, he asks about their shalom. Are you at peace? Is anything missing or lacking. Ultimately, the idea is understanding that life is complex. It has many pieces and when things are out of order or there is a breakdown, there is a lack of shalom. A lack of peace.

When used as a verb, it means to make whole, complete or to restore. This idea that if there is something I can do to bring restoration or complete. This is why we say things like “we need to make peace with them”. It means bring wholeness. An apology or forgiveness can bring shalom.

Israels kings were supposed to be agents of peace but fell short. The prophet Isaiah looked to another king that would be the Prince of Peace/shalom and He would bring restoration and there would be no end.

Isaiah 9:6 CSB

6 For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

This is why the arrival of Jesus is such a big deal. It was stated that His birth was the arrival of peace. Sin separated us from God. It caused a fracture to our relationship with God and each other. However, Jesus restores us. He brings us peace, wholeness, shalom…to God and one another.

Romans 5:1 CSB

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

This was a core message and method in the ministry of Jesus. He brought restoration and wholeness. (Fish and loaves, woman at the well, woman with issue, Lazarus)

Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the presence of Jesus.

Transition

Jesus isn’t an accessory, He is a necessity. In order to have true peace, wholeness, restoration, we need Jesus. There’s a statement that I believe is so true…know Jesus, know peace, no Jesus, no peace. The ministry of Jesus was a ministry of peace and it is with us, it is available to us. That is what we see in this text.

Background/Context

After a long day of teaching, Jesus tells His disciples, let’s go to the other side of the sea. He likely wanted to take a little break and retreat from the crowd. He goes to the stern of the ship, finds a comfortable spot to close His eyes for a few minutes. The disciples are together, tired but excitedly talking about the miracles and messages of the day. They start their journey across the Sea of Galilee. This sea is in between mountains so is vulnerable to strong gusts of wind. They make it about half way through their 13 mile journey , then the storm hits. These experienced fishermen, who were used to storms, got to a point where their regular strategy wasn’t working. Feels like all is lost then they notice that through all the commotion, Jesus is sleep. Chaos all around and Jesus is taking a nap. It can be incredibly frustrating when it feels like Jesus is sleeping on your problems. Marriage is falling apart, seems like Jesus is sleeping. Your career is at a complete standstill or has taken a detour and…Jesus is sleeping! I can be a light sleeper so the idea that Jesus is sleeping now is crazy to me. I suppose the reason being is, Jesus isn’t worried. Jesus isn’t losing sleep, so neither would we.

I think it is in these crazy moments, we can lose our peace. Lose our shalom. The enemy exploits these moments; remember, he is a thief and I believe he leverages storms to scatter us and make us incomplete. I want to give you 2 principles to hold on to no matter what you are facing.

Observations/Points

Take Jesus at His Word

Jesus makes a statement early in the text, LET’S GO TO THE OTHER SIDE. There was no speculation in His words. There was confident assurance. However, when the storm hits, they begin to doubt, they begin to panic, they forgot what Jesus said to them. The irony is earlier that day, Jesus did a comprehensive teaching on the sower, where He shares about the word being sown and how Satan immediately comes to take it away, distress, persecution, and worry takes it away. However, there are those that hear the word, welcome it, and produce fruit. This means it took root in their heart and produced an unshakable fruit. I am not saying that we should not have concerns, burdens, and prayer projects, what I am saying is that we should not lose our peace. Peace should not be predicated on external circumstances. (vacation, no friction - in this world you will have trouble) It is possible to have peace in the wilderness. Peace in the storm. Peace in the problems because peace is not a feeling based on circumstance, peace is a person that transcends them. Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the presence of Jesus

Having Jesus doesn’t prevent us from having storms, having Jesus prevents the storms from having you.

Having Jesus doesn't prevent storms from coming; having Jesus prevents the storms from staying.

You can take Jesus at His word. If He said it, it will happen. He watches over it.

Jeremiah 1:12 CSB

12 The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I watch over my word to accomplish it.”

Jesus watches over His word the way a parent watches over a child. I watch over my granddaughters to make sure they are safe, to make sure they make it to their destination. Jesus is watching over His word in your life.

Sickness will not end in death

Train up a child in how they should go

Plans to prosper you

The issue is not whether God will perform His word, it is will we be in alignment with it. Take Jesus at His word and regain your peace.

Jesus is in Control

This storm comes upon them quick. It is overwhelming to them. They go to Jesus in a panic and fear…Jesus rises. The sun is present even in the storm.

Storms are formed when low pressure develops and is surrounded by high pressure. This causes clouds to form that represent the storm...nimbus clouds. The sun is still there, the storm will pass, our faith is our structure, build on the foundation of Christ. This storm will not destroy you! God has a rainbow waiting for you, you have to look through your storm and see the SON. The very moisture that caused the storm is the same moisture the Son shines through to create the rainbow. The rainbow is a promise…this weapon will not prosper, weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the mourning. The Son is present and the son is in control.

Peace be still, is the same language Jesus used when casting out the spirit. This was a spiritual encounter and with authority, Jesus commands for peace to take the place of confusion, silence to take the place of noise, calm to take the place of chaos. Chaos surrenders to the majesty of God...Every knee shall bow! Peace, be still!

I visited a friend once and was about to be attacked by his dog. He said, be quiet and don’t move. I said, who are you talking to, he said both of you. What if when Jesus said “peace be still” He wasn’t just speaking to the storm, but He is also speaking to us? Problem is, the storm can sometimes be more obedient to the word then we can. God is speaking to the storm and His people…peace, be still. Christ brings immediate peace but we have to be in position to receive it.

Closing

John 14:27 CSB

27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.

As Jesus is about to conclude His earthly ministry, He says, I leave you my peace. Not the worlds peace. How do we access it? Prayer. The Word. Practice it in your home. Sabbath…Bring wholeness, completeness, and shalom to your home, your family, your work, yourself. This is how we align ourselves with the peace of God.

Jesus says, after all that you have seen, do you still not have faith?

Anxiety and fear

Anxiety and fear are very real things. I think this year has exposed us all to where we are vulnerable. It is so easy for us to get scattered and worry about what is to come…be at peace, God is with you. Anxiety is being trapped in the future. Fear is be crippled with concern. We should care about the future, we should have concerns, but we should not be crippled and trapped. Let’s align ourselves with the word of God and experience His peace

Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the presence of Jesus.