We continue in our series on discovering our destiny and on this Healing and Wholeness Sunday we are going to consider how we can “Take heart in trials and sorrows”.
If we could live in a world where there is no trouble, no difficulties, no conflicts, no difficult circumstances, no worrying situations, no illness, no pain, then maybe we never experience trials and sorrows.
But we live in a fallen, broken and sin sick world and often it seems like as soon as we get through something, something else comes along.
Problems happen, bad stuff seems to invade our lives, and at times we struggle to find peace don’t we?
Yet listen to the words of Jesus in John 16:33, Have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Jesus said in John 14:27: “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
“Have peace. Take heart. Don’t be troubled or afraid”, are those words of Jesus, words you need to hear this morning?
Do you need peace of heart and peace of mind this morning?
Do you need to experience the peace that only Jesus can bring into your life?
Do you need to experience His healing touch on your life today?
Friend, whatever circumstance you are facing right now, I would suggest you need to experience His peace so that your heart is not troubled or afraid.
When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippian church he told them that God’s peace “exceeds anything we can understand” – it is a peace that doesn’t make sense to the world.
But there is a condition to this peace Philippians 4:6-7 says: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
We can experience real peace in our hearts and minds when we trust God.
When we pray, when we commit our circumstances and situations to God, when we thank Him for what He has done, is doing, will do, then we will experience perfect peace.
This morning, is your heart and mind troubled by your problem, by your situation, or are your thoughts fixed on the Lord?
Our trust is not in be in our own abilities, or in other people, or in the opinions or philosophies of the world, our trust must be in God alone.
King David said in Psalm 62
2 God alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.
5 Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him.
7 He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
8 O my people, trust in Him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.
Perfect peace comes when our thoughts, our trust is in the God, our Eternal Rock, our fortress, our saviour and our redeemer.
We can experience perfect peace in our hearts and minds when we need to fix our thoughts on Jesus.
God has blessed each of us with the ability to think.
We can let our thoughts lead us into a place of despair or we can choose to let our thoughts lead us to the place of refuge, the place of salvation, the place of perfect peace.
God knows what we think about, God knows what troubles our minds, God knows what can take us away from His place of perfect peace.
We need to remember that Jesus is our Saviour, Jesus is our Healer, Jesus is the Baptiser in the Holy Spirit and Jesus is the Coming King.
We need to lift up our eyes, our hearts, our thoughts to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
We need to trust in His perfect will, His perfect plan, His perfect purpose, and then we will experience His perfect peace.
Let me ask you a few questions, I don’t want you to shout out any answers, just be honest in your mind, with God and yourself as you answer them.
On your way to church today, what was on your mind? What occupied your thoughts?
Were your thoughts on your troubles, trials, circumstances and situations?
Were you thinking about how God can just speak a word and everything will change?
Right now are your thoughts fixed on the problem or on the God who is bigger than all of our problems?
Friend, God knows you, God loves you, God is fully aware of your situation, God wants you to trust Him.
His perfect peace is sufficient for every part of your life.
His perfect peace can calm every storm in your life.
God is interested, God does care, God is able to meet your every need in this life.
Fix your thoughts on Him. Trust Him.
Remember the words of Romans 12:2
Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
What’s on your mind today?
Is it positive or negative?
Does your thinking need to be transformed so that you can experience peace, so that you can experience healing and wholeness of heart and mind?
The Old Testament prophet Isaiah tells us that perfect peace is a promise of God to His people.
Isaiah 26:3-4 says You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.
And Isaiah 26:12 extends this promise: Lord, you will grant us peace; all we have accomplished is really from you.
Both of these verses can encourage and inspire us this morning.
These verses are affirm the relationship we have with God, they affirm the peace God’s people can know and experience.
In this world we will encountered hardships, we will encounter difficulties, we will encounter circumstances and situations, BUT God will grant us peace.
God can keep us in perfect peace when we place our thoughts, our trust in Him.
God is able to keep YOUR heart in perfect peace, when YOUR mind is fixed and committed to God.
Your life may not be an easy life.
You may experience danger, disaster or disease, but in everything you encounter in this life, you can place your faith and trust in Jesus.
God is in control and He has the power and strength to bring peace and rest to your life.
In our own strength we can do nothing, all we think we have accomplished is actually God at work.
Friends, let me encourage you to rely on God, rely on His promises, rely on His Word, rely on the empowering of the Holy Spirit.
Let God transform the way you think.
Let God renew your mind.
Let God bring your thoughts to a place of perfect peace and rest.
You can experience perfect peace today.
Fix your thoughts on the God whose is able.
Allow Him to do that which you cannot do yourself.
This morning, thank God that He is able to give each of us perfect peace regardless of our circumstances.
Thank God that He has promised to keep you in perfect peace and focus your thoughts on Him.
Receive the blessings that God has given you through Jesus Christ and in the Power of the Holy Spirit.
God will keep you in perfect peace when you trust in Him, when you fix your thoughts on Him!
Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is your eternal Rock.
Over the days, weeks, months, years, that you have been in church, you have probably listened to many people preach and teach about what God is able to do.
Ephesians 3:20 says, “all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”
Don’t limit God. With just a word, everything can change, every storm can be stilled, healing can come, wholeness of heart and mind is possible in Christ.
“Have peace. Take heart. Don’t be troubled or afraid”
If your faith is in Jesus Christ, if you belong to Jesus, then you have nothing to fear
Jesus is God, He was incarnated as a baby.
He lived a perfect, sinless life.
He willingly gave Himself as a sacrifice for those who would trust Him as Lord and Saviour.
He paid the price for our sins through the shedding of His blood on the Cross.
He died.
He was buried in a borrowed tomb.
He was resurrected to life again on the third day.
He has conquered death, He has conquered sin.
In Him we are saved from God’s judgment and wrath.
He is has given us a salvation that can never be taken away.
He has given us the gift of eternal life because of our faith in Him.
In Jesus we have healing and wholeness of heart and mind.
When we fix our eyes on Him we have peace, we have assurance, we have strength, we have life.
In Him we have the faith to persevere.
This morning, on this Healing & Wholeness Sunday, you can experience the blessing of God.
You can sense His presence, you can know His power, you can experience His touch upon your life.
Don’t let your trials and troubles take your focus from God, He is able, He is willing, trust in Him.
What do you need God to heal today?
Is it something in your life? Your family? Your work?
A specific situation or circumstance that only God can change?
As we come to our time of prayer, let us ask God to speak, to act, to move, to bless.
“Have peace. Take heart. Don’t be troubled or afraid”
