Peace Of God--The God Of Peace Himself Series

• Philippians 4:4-7

o Always be joyful in the Lord! I’ll say it again: be joyful!

o Let everyone know how considerate you are. The Lord is near.

o Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks.

o Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.

• So, have you found peace yet?

• Have you found the peace of God yet?

• We’ve been talking about the Secret of Peace—the peace of God Himself

• We’ve covered the first two steps

o Stand firm

? In the midst of it all

? When the attacks come

? Stand firm

? Know who you are in the Lord

? Know who’s you are in the Lord

? And stand firm

o Unity and agreement

? Put our differences aside

? When we’re working

• In the Lord

? Our focus is on the big picture

? And we’re consumed with that

? And so, we don’t have time to be divisive

? We don’t have time for my agenda

? Because it’s all about His agenda

? I can share my opinion

? But when the decision is made

? I get on board and move on

? What difference is it going to make in 5 years

? The difference for a soul is eternal

? And that’s more important

? Paint will fade

? Carpet will run

? Chairs will fall apart

? But the Kingdom of God will never be destroyed

? It’s time that we become fellow yokesmen

? Come alongside each other

? Support each other

? Love on each other

? Encourage one another

? Help when we see a need

• In Paul’s letter we then have this switch back to business for the church

• It’s back to joy

• Always be joyful

• The third step to the secret of peace and the peace of God Himself is Rejoicing in the Lord

• One of the most consistent and nagging questions we encounter in our life is the question…”Why?”

o Almost no other question has us bothered,

o Frustrated

o Angry

o Or even frightened than the question of

? Why?

o You remember when we were children

o One of the first questions that come out of our mouths as soon as we gained the power of speech

? Why?

? Daddy, why is the sky blue?

? Mommy, why is the grass green

? Why do I have to eat these peas

? Why do I have to eat liver

? Why do I have to clean up my room

? Why do I have to go to bed

? Why do people hate each other

? Mommy, why are you and daddy always fighting

o We generally put most of these questions on our parents

o And they tried to answer our questions the best they could

o Before saying

? I don’t know

o Or the best answer a parent could every come up with

? Because I said so

o I used to think that answer was so unfair

o I thought that you should always explain to me, as a child, what the reasons were

o But then one day I had my own children and understood

? Because I said so

? Was a terrific answer to your children

o After being hit with a dozen questions after I asked them to do something

o Or to stop something

o I understood why that was a sufficient answer

o I’m sure I used to drive my mother crazy with asking the question,

? Why?

o Never my father,

o He gave you that look and you knew it was

? Because I said so

o But mom would do her best to give an answer

? Right or wrong

? It would satisfy my curiosity

? At least for that moment

o But when we became adults,

o Even though we gained more knowledge in many things

o We still struggle with that one question

? Why?

o The only difference, is our questions became more complex,

o More complicated,

o More frustrating

? Why doesn’t somebody do something about this?

? Why are these taxes so high?

? Why aren’t I getting paid as much as this person?

? Why don’t we get along?

? Why don’t we ever talk anymore?

? Why don’t you love me anymore?

? Why is it we don’t love each other anymore?

o Now, unlike when we were kids

o We can’t come to our parents to get all the answers

o And we’re more hard pressed to get them

o We even come before the gates of heaven to demand answers from the Lord