Peace In A Promise

Peace in a Promise

John 14:15-31

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.

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INTRODUCTION:

Peace is a much sought after but seldom found prize! There seems to be so little peace in this old world. We seek it at home as we try just about anything – herbal supplements, sleeping aids, and meditation – to relax and find peace. We seek it in our relationships. We enter counseling to find peace within ourselves and with one another. We read books, and listen to sermons, and ask for advice of close friends and newspaper columnists to help solve relational problems. But, peace now seems more elusive than ever before.

ILL - Many years ago a retired couple, concerned about the threat of nuclear war, decided to carefully research the safest place on earth to which they could move and live. They studied and traveled, traveled and studied. Finally they found THE PLACE. And on Christmas they sent their pastor a card from their new home – in the Faulkland Islands – just prior to the war between Argentina and England in the early 1980’s over their control! Jim Kane from “The Illusive Fruit”

ILL. Have you heard about Tracy Lyperd? Tracy was a beauty queen in VA a few years ago. Shortly after crowning her successor, she drove 250 miles to seek revenge on her ex-boyfriend for jilting her & marrying another. She took along a pistol, a hammer, lighter fluid & matches. When she arrived at his house & rang the doorbell, it was answered by his new father-in-law. Tracy faked having car trouble, & asked if she could use the telephone. Once inside the house, she took out her hammer & hit the father-in-law on the head. She stunned him, but didn’t knock him out. What she didn’t realize was that he was an ex-secret service agent. He grabbed her & as they struggled, she pulled the pistol from her purse & tried to shoot him. That’s when the mother-in-law joined the fray & the two of them wrestled her to the floor, holding her until the police arrived. I have a suspicion that Tracy, with that kind of disposition, was probably never in the running for the Miss Congeniality award. When questioned, she said that she was driven to seek revenge because she needed "inner peace."

REAL PEACE

ILL - My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today, I have finished 2 bags of chips and a chocolate cake.

I feel better already.

SOURCE: http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh

First: How can we have this peace that Jesus promises in our text?

I. The Commandments v. 15

a. Our behavior

Isaiah 57:21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

There’s an old song that says, “You can’t do wrong and get by, no matter how hard you may try…” and the songwriter hit the nail on the head. But, when we obey his commandments we have peace! Many believers do not enjoy the peace that passeth understanding because they are rebelling against God’s Word in different areas of their life. The Scripture says that “He that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin…” God will chastise His children.

b. Our belief

Christian author Neil Anderson wrote a list he called “The Twenty Cans of Success.” These are based on what the NT says is true of Christians. These are promises, claimed by believers through the centuries. Allow God to speak to you through these assurances.

1. Why should I say I can’t when the Bible says I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13)?

2. Why should I lack when I know that God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19)?

3. Why should I fear when the Bible says God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)?

4. Why should I lack faith to fulfill my calling knowing that God as allotted to me a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)?

5. Why should I be weak when the Bible says that the Lord is the strength of my life and that I will display strength and take action because I know God (Psalm 27:1; Daniel 11:32)?

6. Why should I allow Satan supremacy over my life when He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4)?

7. Why should I accept defeat when the Bible says that God always leads me in triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14)?