Peace Delivered

Peace in the Presence of God

Good morning.

Doesn’t it feel good to simply enjoy the Peaceful presence of God?

That has been our goal for you this morning in the choice of songs, the meditation and music of communion. Just to release our burdens as we enter the presence of God.

There is a part of us that know how important it is for us to slow down, but stress and anxiety work to make us feel hurried and rushed. Life can get so crazy and hectic, especially around the holidays. So, today I want us to talk about adding - PEACE, to our wish list this Christmas. I want to show you how PEACE was truly DELIVERED in Jesus.

I love the story from 1 Kings 19 that fills us in on Elijah’s experience of the Presence of God.

It was an incredible time in Elijah’s life. God’s Prophet was an outlaw, in hiding from King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. The evil perpetuated by the royal pair had brought God’s judgment upon Israel. They had killed many of God’s prophets and instituted worship of false gods. So, for three years God had withheld rain from the land. In chapter 18 Elijah hosted a showdown between God and false god Baal on Mt. Carmel. In the end, God sent down fire from heaven. It was an incredible event revealing God’s power.

Finally the tables were turning. Elijah thought surely, now they would honor God. As rain clouds rose on the horizon, Elijah tucked his cloak in his belt and ran the 30 miles from Mt. Carmel to Jezreel. But rather than repent, Jezebel’s heart was hardened and she threatened to kill Elijah, so he fled from Jezreel to Beersheba, nearly another 100 miles. There, Elijah left his servant and went a days’ travel into the desert.

After this super marathon of over 130 miles on foot, Elijah collapsed beneath a broom tree. Defeated and exhausted, Elijah prayed to die.

I know it doesn’t seem like the best lead in for experiencing the presence of God, but we often find God when everything else in life is falling apart. Elijah was at his end. He had run as hard and fast as he could. The event he thought was a victory was the catalyst of his death sentence. Now, he hasn’t eaten, he’s physically exhausted and clearly depressed. He had no peace in his life. He had given up and wanted things to simply end.

Maybe you’ve been there too. Exhausted from running as hard as you can go; situations you thought were going good, turned out to bring more trouble in life. You feel alone. Defeated.

You can be on God’s side and still face all of these things.

But, It was from this low point that God would encourage Elijah to come meet with him. Allowing for some sleep, an Angel delivered food and an invitation to Mt. Horeb. It was a long journey, but when he arrived, Elijah entered a cave,

The New International Version (1984) The Lord Appears to Elijah

11 The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

It wasn’t in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire when God spoke - it was a gentle whisper!

I feel like I am constantly surrounded by more and more volume. There is a growing intensity in the world. It’s like going from a wind to earthquake to the burning heat of fire. I know that in personal relationships, there is a common reaction in a disagreement that whoever is loudest is most right. People raise their voice to somehow demonstrate their dominance or proclaim their superior position. People are always looking for a bigger bullhorn. - now whether it is TV, Radio, tweet or a Headline - everyone is shouting louder to draw your attention.

But getting louder doesn’t make you right. As voices around us get louder and louder, as the world get’s more intense - it is good to know that

God invites us to PEACE.

He isn’t yelling at us to get things right, to straighten up - try harder. God’s coming presence brings lots of intensity, but God himself speaks PEACE and invites us to come to him.

The Disciples had a similar experience as they encountered a Powerful storm crossing the Sea of Galilee. I mentioned this in past messages. Jesus was asleep in the boat, when the winds grew heavy and water began to swamp the boat. The disciples feared for their life, and waking Jesus up questioned, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown.” Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Peace, be still.” Everything became completely still and Jesus questioned them, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” The disciples were amazed, and asked “Who is this? Even the winds and waves obey him?”

Jesus invited,

The New International Version (1984) Rest for the Weary

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The invitation to share Jesus’ yoke is an interesting. There are a few insinuations connected to this invitation.

The yoke is used to connect two individuals together, so that they walk together. They can’t go different directions

The yoke was used to combine power for more effective work

this was Jesus’ yoke - not yours. Jesus didn’t say, bring your yoke to me and I will help you get the work done. He says, take my yoke upon you and learn from me.

Our rest, our PEACE is found as we come to Jesus and walk with him in what HE is doing. PEACE is found in the presence of Jesus.