Pass the Peace Please
Text: John 14:27
“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.”
You have got to admit, we live in a TROUBLED world! But in Jesus Christ, we can have “PEACE,” because He is our “PEACE”!
The Psalmist writes,
1. We can have “PEACE” with God! (Rom 5:1)
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
Notice the proper steps:
* Faith in Jesus
** Justified by God
*** Peace in our hearts
In others words:
CHRIST CRUCIFIED!
GOD SATISFIED!!
MAN JUSTIFIED!!!
Have you taken those steps to have “PEACE” with God?
Why not do it right now? But how?
A. Admit you’ve sinned – missed the mark. (Rom 3:23)
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
The word “sinned” is ἁμαρτάνω, (ham-ar-tan’-o), which means to miss the mark, do wrong, sin.
B. Believe on Jesus – not just believe in Jesus – the demons believe and tremble. (James 2:19)
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
Believe means trust! The devil has not repented (turned from sin and turned to Jesus).
C. Confess – (Rom 10:9, 10)
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
2. We can have the “PEACE” of God! (Phil 4:6, 7)
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
The word “anxious” is μεριμνάω: (mer-im-nah’-o), which means I am anxious about, distracted; I care for.
Are you feeling distracted from the things of God? Spiritual things? What can you do?
Here the apostle Paul writes, while in prison, how to deal with ANXIETY, which is the opposite of “PEACE.”
First, he says, we should turn our FOCUS on Someone Bigger than our problems – JESUS CHRIST!
“By prayer”….
Secondly, tell our Lord our needs while giving THANKS!
“….and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
This means thanking Him even though we may be going thru a hard time.
Thirdly, then we can expect, the “PEACE of God” to protect both our minds and hearts.
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
The word “peace” is εἰρήνη, (i-ray’-nay) which means one, peace, quietness, rest, ….peace, peace of mind.
It is one thing to have “PEACE with God.” It is altogether something else to have the “PEACE of God”!
In this great epistle written from prison, while inspired by the Holy Ghost, Paul describes the believer’s SUFFICIENCY in Christ Jesus (Col 3:15).
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”
* Walking in Him (Col 2:6, 7)
* Crucified with Him ( Col 2:13)
* Risen with Him (Col 3:1-4)
Conclusion:
Are you experiencing ANXIETY?
Is your heart TROUBLED?
Do you need “PEACE”?
The kind of “PEACE” that does not come from a BOTTLE or a PILL but comes from a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with JESUS CHRIST, the lamb of God.
Have you trusted in Jesus’ death on the cross for the payment of your sins? Are you spending time daily looking and depending on Jesus for His “PEACE” in every situation?
If so, then rest in His “PEACE”!
Pass the “PEACE” Please!
And give that “PEACE” away to others who are troubled.