1. "Peas, perfect peas"; "All we are saying is, 'Give peas a chance.'"
2. Some funny church signs:
* "Tonight's sermon: Hell. Come early and hear the choir practice."
* "7 Days without prayer makes one weak."
* "Don't let worry kill you; let the church help."
3. Philippians 4.7-9
Barclay: "To Paul, God is the God of peace. This, in fact, is his favorite title for God (Romans 16:20; I Corinthians 14:3; I Thessalonians 5:23). To a Jew peace was never merely a negative thing; it was never merely the absence of trouble; peace was everything which makes for a man's highest good. Only in the friendship of God can a man find life as life was meant to be. But also to a Jew this peace issued specially in right relationships. It is only by the grace of God that we can enter into a right relationship with God and with our fellow men. The God of peace is the God who is able to make life what it was meant to be by enabling us to enter into fellowship with himself and fellowship with our fellow men."
4. Peace is being in right relationship with others -- the lack of fighting in Israel does not necessarily mean there is peace -- Palestinians are not really getting along with Jews -- tension is growing.
I. The Reality of No Peace
A. Stressful Situations Affect our Peace
I came across a list of what some experts consider to be the ten most stressful types of jobs in our nation today. According to them, the #1 most stressful job in our nation is being an inner-city high school teacher. Going to school every day with metal detectors and kids carrying guns and knives and with very little authority in the classroom makes that a very stressful job.
#2 is being a police officer. It's interesting that they concluded that being a teacher is more stressful than being a police officer, isn't it?
#3 is being a miner working underground, realizing that at any time it could all cave in and bury you alive.
#4 is being an air traffic controller worrying about 1000's of people in the airplanes that you're responsible for guiding in safely.
#5 is being a medical intern working long hours in emergency situations, not yet having all the skills you need, and trying desperately to learn them.
#6 is a stockbroker experiencing the ups and downs of the stock market.
#7 is a journalist battling deadlines.
#8 is a clerk in a customer complaint department; listening to people complain all day long.
#9 is being a waitress. And #10 is being a secretary.
1. Uncertain Life
a. Brief -- James 4.14
b. Not always as we plan -- 4.15
2. Challenges of Life -- Jobs can be good or bad but stressful even when we enjoy it
John 14:25-27
25 "I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
3. Family Relationships
a. Not as easy as we would like -- effort
b. Husband and wife -- mutual submission and service -- Ephesians 5
c. Parental leadership -- Ephesians 6; Deuteronomy 6
4. Other Relationships
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 and marrying another. She took along a pistol, a hammer, lighter fluid and matches.
When she arrived at his house and rang the doorbell, it was answered by his new father-in-law. Tracy faked having car trouble, and asked if she could use the telephone. Once inside the house, she took out her hammer and 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 and as they struggled, she pulled the pistol from her purse and tried to shoot him. That's when the mother-in-law joined the fray and 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."
a. Me first mentality
b. OTHERS
c. Philippians 4.2-3
5. Churches?
B. Animosity Affects Our Peace
1. Outward anger -- Sadducees vs. Yeshua (Jesus); High Priest tearing clothes
2. Grudges -- Jacob and Esau; Ishmael and Isaac
II. The Remedies to Know Peace
A. No avoidance -- can't hide head in the sand
B. Take Assertive Actions
1. Rejoice -- there is always some blessing to see
2. Practice Forbearance -- Gentleness; Reasonableness
a. Planning ahead with intent
b. Assertive kindness --
1) How we can love our enemies
2) As Yeshua -- Acts 10.34ff (doing good)
3. Prayer and Supplication
a. Some never pray for various reasons
b. Some pray some of the time (most of us)
c. A few pray all of the time, about everything
4. Thanksgiving -- accompanies peace -- Colossians 3.15-17
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
C. Achieve Results -- 4.7
1. Peace -- Shalom completeness guards; keeps; protects you
2. As Yeshua (Jesus) Had promised -- Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. (John 14.27); "Peace be still" on Sea of Galilee
3. Beyond understanding
On December 7, 1941, a Japanese Zero piloted by Mitsuo Fuchida took off from the aircraft carrier Akagi. Fuchida led the surprise attack on the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Through the war years to follow, Fuchida continued to fly--often narrowly escaping death. At war's end, he was disillusioned and bitter.
A few years later, he heard a story that piqued his spiritual curiosity: A Christian young woman whose parents had been killed by the Japanese during the war decided to minister to Japanese prisoners. Impressed, Fuchida began reading the Bible.
As he read Jesus' words from the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34), he understood how that woman could show kindness to her enemies. That day Fuchida gave his heart to Christ. Becoming a lay preacher and evangelist to his fellow citizens, this former warrior demonstrated "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding" (Phil. 4:7).
Conclusion
1. Yeshua (Jesus) went against the norm -- John 20.19-23
a. After resurrection we might seek revenge on the betrayer or the ones who denied
b. Not Yeshua -- "Peace"
c. He had literally been through hell for us and offers peace and the Holy Spirit to his disciples
2. Paul's place was not in an ivory tower or church office bubble -- in a prison when he wrote many of his letters
3. Some practical actions
a. Relax and trust God -- Matthew 6.25
b. Value yourself and believe God -- Matthew 6.26
a. We are not accidents of nature or the process of evolution; we are made by God in his image
b. Life is not to be treated lightly -- abortion; euthanasia
c. Regardless of our past, God says we are important to him
c. Get serious with God -- Matthew 6.33
I came across a paragraph by an 85 year old woman that I think is a classic. Here is what she wrote, "If you live to be 75 years old you will live over 657,000 hours." Did you know that? That's almost 2/3rds of a million hours that you're going to live. That's too much to be anxious about all the time. So don't worry.
That's the advice. Worry is kind of like a rocking chair. It is something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere. So don't worry.
Here is what she wrote, reflecting on her life at age 85. She said, "God, if I had my life to live over, I would relax and ramble around and be sillier than I had been on this trip.
"I would take fewer things so seriously, and I would take more chances. I would take more trips and I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.
"I would eat more ice cream and less prunes." (I like that.) "I would perhaps have some actual troubles but I'm sure I would have fewer imaginary ones. You see, I'm one of those people who have lived sensibly and safely, hour after hour, day after day.
"Oh, I have had my moments. And if I had it all to do over again I would have more of them. Just moments one after another instead of living so many years in a big chair, acting like all those persons who never go anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat, or a parachute.
"If I had it to do over again I would worry less. I would laugh more, and I would pick a lot more daisies."
