Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Explores the divine promise of Jesus' enduring peace, contrasting it with the fleeting peace of the world, and encourages living in this peace daily.
Good morning, my dear family in Christ. What a blessing it is to gather here today, in this sacred space, to bask in the glory of God's love and to find solace in His eternal Word. We are here to be fed, to be nurtured, to be comforted, and to be challenged by the truth of the Gospel. We are here to be reminded of the promises of our Savior, the peculiarities of worldly peace, and the power of Jesus' peace.
Paul Chappell once said, "Because of the empty tomb, we have peace. Because of His resurrection, we can have peace during even the most troubling of times because we know He is in control of all that happens in the world." Indeed, peace is not something we can manufacture on our own. It is a gift from God, a fruit of the Spirit, a divine treasure that surpasses all understanding.
Let us turn our hearts to the words of our Savior as recorded in 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."
Oh, what a precious promise! As we prepare to delve into the depths of this divine promise, let us first bow our heads in prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day, for the opportunity to gather in Your name, to worship You, to learn from You, and to be transformed by Your Word. We thank You for the peace that Jesus has given us, a peace that surpasses all understanding, a peace that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. As we reflect on Your Word today, we pray that You would open our hearts and minds to receive Your truth. Fill us with Your peace, Lord, and help us to live in the reality of this peace each and every day. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
So, let us now turn our attention to the promises of peace, the peculiarities of worldly peace, and the power of Jesus' peace. Are we ready to receive what the Lord has for us today? Are we willing to let His peace rule in our hearts? Are we eager to experience the power of Jesus' peace in our lives? Let's find out together.
In the book of John, Jesus speaks to His disciples, reassuring them of the peace He is leaving behind. This peace is not a fleeting, temporary peace, but a lasting, eternal peace. It is a peace that transcends all understanding, a peace that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. This is the peace that Jesus promises to His followers. It is a peace that is not dependent on our circumstances, but is anchored in our relationship with Jesus.
Not a peace that the world can give: The world offers a peace that is temporary, a peace that is contingent on our circumstances, a peace that is fleeting and superficial. But the peace that Jesus offers is different. It is a peace that is lasting, a peace that is deep, a peace that is enduring. It is a peace that can weather any storm, a peace that can withstand any trial, a peace that can conquer any fear.
For all who believe in Jesus: It is a promise for you and me. It is a promise that we can hold onto in the midst of our trials, in the midst of our storms, in the midst of our fears. It is a promise that gives us hope, that gives us comfort, that gives us courage. It is a promise that assures us of God's presence, God's protection, and God's provision.
How do we receive this peace?: How do we experience this peace in our daily lives? The answer is simple: we receive this peace by faith. We receive this peace by trusting in Jesus, by surrendering our lives to Him, by relying on His promises. We receive this peace by letting go of our fears, by letting go of our worries, by letting go of our doubts. We receive this peace by resting in God's love, by resting in God's grace, by resting in God's mercy.
As we continue to ponder on the words of our Savior in John 14:27, we find ourselves confronting the peculiarities of worldly peace ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO