*(slide 1)Peace be with you!
Luke 24:36-53
FCF: People have doubts and troubled mind.
Proposition: If you find the peace that God gives, you will be stronger in the midst of trials.
Relevant ? Where can we get this peace?
*****
Illu: I was strolling in a mall, when I caught up with the band playing rock songs... I was in higher level to see the whole concert. From there, I observed the band playing loud music, and the young people are in front of the band jumping, swaying, singing, and shouting.
In the midst of screaming and chaos, I saw a girl embracing a sleeping baby. While the mother goes with the sway of the crowd, the baby is still sleeping despite the noise, and the disorder.
The baby seems to have peace in the midst of turmoil.
(Will you tell your neighbor, “Do you have peace?”)
*(Slide 2)Proposition: If you find the peace that God gives, you will be stronger in the midst of trials.
Antithesis:
1. Not all of us have peace. In fact all of us here, one way or the other, are clamoring for peace.
2. Just by going outside our homes, we fear, because of trouble.
3. For the students. Does anybody bullying?
4. In your job, in your home, in your neighborhood, with our economy, our government, etc.
5. Do we have peace? (pause)
Thesis:
1. But the peace that God gives us is everlasting peace.
2. If we have this peace it gives us the confidence to go on.
3. It is a peace of hope and prepares us to be peacemaker.
Relevant ? Where can we get this peace?
*(Slide 3)Read: Luke 24: 36-53
Synthesis:
The disciples do not know yet Jesus has risen. They gather together in “locked doors.”
Why do they have to lock their door?
Maybe they are afraid of something? Maybe they are afraid that the Pharisees will be after them.
The whole faith has crumbled. Jesus died, now what?
The emotions at that time are confusion, fear, and uncertainty.
Have you had that feeling before?
So they locked doors fearing for their lives. They talk to each other, maybe in whispering voice...
At that time they need somebody, they need assurance, and they need peace.
Where can they find peace? (pause)
All of a sudden, Jesus himself stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” (v38)
They were startled and frightened, “It’s a ghost!”
Now...
*(slide 4)Relevant ? Where can we get this peace?
I. You can find peace in Jesus, because he has risen! (vv37-39)
a. They have seen him physically.
1. Do not doubt ... see my hands and feet.
2. Do not doubt... touch me and see for your own eyes.
Illu: Dont believe until I see
Sometimes we a have this notion that, “We dont believe until we see.”
“To see is to believe.”
Then sometimes, we don’t believe what we see, “Please pinch me , pinch me.”
“I don’t believe Im here in US, pinch me!”
Application: Jesus showed himself to them to prove his resurrection. This is very important theological proof for the disciples and even for us today. If he has not risen all of our faith would be useless. Its kaput! (pause)
He appealed to their senses, and performed acts which a disembodied spirit could not do.
So we find peace in His resurrection. This is a power of God.
b. They have seen him and fellowship with them.(v40)
They are still unbelieving, so Jesus ask for a food, “Do you have something to eat?”
Was Jesus hungry?
Now let’s see. This is an Asian culture. Israel and the surrounding vicinity is Asian in general. You might notice most of the time Jesus in his gospel always includes eating.
We can see him feeding people, eating on table, attending wedding feast. There are foods!
For Asian culture, this is where they fellowship. They want to get together, to know each other intimately.
Have you ever wonder why we fellowship with food after the service every Sunday?
Illu: I observed that wherever restaurant I go, there are Asians. If not Asians, Filipinos. Fastfood, Applebees, Eat all you can, there are Filipinos. We love to eat. :D
But along with the eating is fellowship.
Jesus would like to fellowship with them. They were so frightened of the event; they want somebody to cling on to and to protect them. By fellowship, they were assured that Jesus is really is alive.
Do you have fellowship with Christ? If you do, you will find peace you cannot imagine. You may Commune with him daily.
Application: They have felt peace by seeing Jesus and by fellowship with him. If you want peace in your lives, know that Jesus has risen , a mighty power, and that you can invite him and fellowship with him. He will be with us us to fellowship with us.
Are you heavily laden, Jesus said, “come unto me and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28)
*(slide 5)Relevant ? Where can we get this peace?
II. You can find peace in Jesus, because the bible prophecy is fulfilled! (v44)
a. Hope in the written word
1. In the Law of Moses
Jesus tried to convince his disciples that what are happening now are all written and is fulfilled.
The fulfillment of what has been prophesied is great factor in believing and in our faith. The scripture is our foundation. It is our life, our map (direction) and our hope.
Illu: Wesleyan Quadrilateral – the Church of the Nazarene believes in this
- Reason – Tradition – Faith (Experience) – Scripture
2. In the Prophets and the Psalms
We can find prophesies about Jesus in the book of the Prophets.
This is one of the bases if they will include books written by a prophet in the canon (bible).
Jesus is the center of our history.
From the past, they talk about Jesus Christ.
From the present, we talk back about Jesus Christ.
b. Hope that our mind will be opened.
Jesus opened these people's mind to understand the scriptures.
The Holy Spirit does this in our lives when we study the Bible.
Illu: Dr. George Sweeting once estimated that "more than a fourth of the Bible is predictive prophecy... Both the Old and New Testaments are full of promises about the return of Jesus Christ.
Over 1800 references appear in the O.T., and seventeen O.T. books give prominence to this theme.
Of the 260 chapters in the N.T., there are more than 300 references to the Lord's return--one out of every 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 N.T. books refer to this great event...
For every prophecy on the first coming of Christ, there are 8 on Christ's second coming."
Today in the Word, MBI, December, 1989, p. 40.
Application: We have peace because the whole Bible talks about Jesus Christ.
We have peace because he fulfilled what was written.
We have peace because his words are with us to lean on. Amen?
*(slide 6)Relevant ? Where can we get this peace?
III. You can find peace in Jesus, because He sends peacemakers! (vv45-49)
a. He sends witnesses (v48)
– He sends these peacemakers to proclaim peace to mankind.
– He sends these peacemakers to tell about Jesus and that when we accept Jesus, he will sup with us and have peace in us.
? Are you the peacemaker or trouble maker?
Illu: Recently last May 1. We have seen lots of protest for everything. In fact they even destroyed, vandalized some private and government/private properties. They want to tell something to the government. Are they listening? Maybe.
Our proclamation is different.
We are not in protest.
We are not destroying properties. But we proclaim peace.
We show them a life that has peace thru Jesus Christ.
Application: Let us be peacemaker because Jesus is in us. Let us impact the whole world for them to know about Jesus.
b. He sends his Spirit to us (John 20:21)
– The promised Holy Spirit
– To cloth you with power from on high.
Illu: Justin, my youngest son, when he was little boy, played with some others friends. All of a sudden there were fighting over a toy. The he said, “If you won’t give back my toy, I will use my power!” Then he acted and said, “Kame, kame WAVE!” You know that anime?
The Holy spirit will not give you that kind of power. But its different power, the power of transformation.
Illu: One New Year's Day, in the Tournament of Roses parade, a beautiful float suddenly sputtered and quit. It was out of gas. The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of gas. The amusing thing was this float represented the Standard Oil Company. With its vast oil resources, its truck was out of gas.
Often, Christians neglect their spiritual maintenance, and though they are "clothed with power" (Luke 24:49) find themselves out of gas.
Steve Blankenship in God Came Near by Max Lucado, Multnomah Press, 1987, p. 95.
In Acts the Holy Spirit has proven its work and power.
The Bible says, he is our comforter.
- Acts 1:8 – The Spirit will give us power.
-John 14:26 – the comforter will teach you all things
-John 14:16 – abide with us forever.
Application:
*(slide 7)Proposition: If you find the peace that God gives, you will be stronger in the midst of trials.
Conclusion:
*(slide 8)Relevant ? Where can we get this peace?
There is peace in Jesus, because he has risen! (vv37-39)
There is peace in Jesus, because the bible prophecy is fulfilled! (v44)
There peace in Jesus, because He sends peacemakers! (vv45-49)
Illu:
Tim Hansel, Holy Sweat, 1987, Word Books Publisher, p. 63.
In my late twenties, a bunch of my friends and I decided to sail around the world. I have to admit, though, at the time I was a bit worried. I hadn't even sailed before. I was uneasy and anxious. So I spent a lot of time reading the Bible and praying about it, until it dawned on me that God was whispering,
"Tim, I'll give you peace if you read some books on sailing. The reason you're anxious is not due to lack of prayer, but to your lack of sailing knowledge."
I wasn't unprayerful; I was unskilled. So I took a step I needed to take to "let" God work his peace in my heart. I began reading about sailing.
IllU;
Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered.
The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled.
As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd.
A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner.
The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace?
A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power.
A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil.
Berit Kjos, A Wardrobe from the King, pp. 45-46.
What a picture of peace. And we can find that in Jesus!
Hymn:# 572 He hideth my soul
