Experiencing The Peace Of God Series

EXPERIENCING THE PEACE OF GOD

Illus. – Years ago, two artists set out to paint a picture representing perfect peace. The first painted a canvas depicting a carefree lad sitting in a boat on a little placid lake without a ripple to disturb the surface. The other painted a raging waterfall with winds whipping the spray about. On a limb, overhanging the swirling water, a bird had built its nest, and sat peacefully brooding her eggs. Here, she was safe from her predatory enemies, shielded and protected by the roaring falls.

The peace of God is not the ABSENCE of trials. Rather, it is the result of remaining calm and cool in the MIDST of trial. The opposite of peace is anxiety and worry when facing perplexing circumstances.

Only saved people can experience the peace of God. It’s for believers who are controlled by the Spirit, for it is one of the “fruit of the Spirit” found in Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, PEACE…” But a Christian can lose the peace OF God if he’s not living in the Spirit and not walking in faith, but rather is filled with fear and care.

1. THE SOURCE OF OUR PEACE.

When we are saved and our peace with God is made, living in the peace of God is the priority of Jesus Christ. One of His greatest concerns for His disciples was that they would know peace. He knew the road that lay ahead for each of them and the troubles they and each of us would face. Here is what Jesus said to them shortly before dying.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

If you are ever going to experience peace in your life– it won’t come thru financial security, thru your mate, thru your job, thru anything of this earth. All of these things can be taken from you any moment. None of them are guaranteed. Where does true peace come from?

It comes in and thru our relationship with Jesus Christ.

The old saying is true: If you Know Jesus, then you Know Peace. If you have No Jesus, you have no peace.

2. THE PROCUREMENT OF OUR PEACE.

John 14:1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me."

Jesus gives us His peace. It is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Peace is His gift to us, but it is up to us to receive it and grow in it.

How do we procure this peace that Christ gives us?

It is thru faith. Every day that you live you choose if and how much you are going to believe Jesus. Peace comes thru faith-building experiences and the more you go thru, the more your faith grows.

The more your faith in Christ grows, the more peace you have. In the Gospel of Mark, We can see Jesus perform 4 miracles in less than 24 hours to accomplish one thing in the disciples– their unwavering faith in Him.

The story begins at Mk 4:35, Jesus and the disciples are crossing the sea at night. Fierce storm blows up while Jesus is asleep. It looks like they will all die. They woke Jesus and asked Him “Carest not that we are perishing?” He stood and rebuked the wind saying “Hush, be still.”

He lay down and went back to sleep. The disciples, though, asked a very important question, “Who is this that even the wind and sea obey Him?”

They land that morning at a cemetery. A man is possessed by demons and wild, naked, and a self-mutilator. He runs to Jesus and throws himself down at His feet. Jesus cast the demons out of him and into a herd of swine. One awesome thing I notice about this journey is that Jesus met the man, healed the man, and immediately left. Why did He go all the way there and leave so quickly? Because 1 man's soul was crying out to Him. Jesus made that journey for 1 man. Surely Jesus came to save the masses, but He is also a personal Savior. And, today, if you are in peril, cry out to Him. He will hear you and He will rescue you because He loves you.

They cross back over the sea and are immediately swarmed by a crowd of people. A man approaches Jesus and asks Him to come and heal his daughter who is near death. They start making their way to their home. One lady, though, pushes her way thru the crowd. She has been suffering with a health condition for many years. Her life was filled with pain and shame. She never dreamed to get to talk to Jesus or Him talk to her. Probably, the shame of her condition made her want to remain anonymous anyway. She thought, "If I could just touch His robe, I will be healed."