THE PEACE OF A VISION
JOHN 14:27
PROBABLY ONE OF THE SCARIEST FEELINGS A PERSON CAN HAVE IS NOT TO HAVE A CLEAR SENSE OF DIRECTION WHEN TRAVELING IN A BIG CITY, LIKE MONTREAL OR TORONTO. THIS WOULD BE SMALL IN SCALE IF YOU WERE TO COMPARE WITH NEW YORK OR CHICAGO. THERE IS A GREAT SENSE OF RELIEF WHEN FAMILIAR LANDMARKS COME INTO VIEW, AND WE REALIZE WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE GOING.
THE SAME IS TRUE FOR OUR PERSONAL LIVES. WE ALL WANT TO HAVE A CLEAR IDEA OF WHERE WE WILL BE SAY IN FIVE OR TEN YEARS.
WE WANT THE KIND OF PEACE THAT AN OLD JEWISH MAN HAD AS HE WAS AWAITING SURGERY. HIS SON-IN LAW, A RENOWNED SURGHEON WAS TO PERFORM THE OPERATION, SO HE LOOKED AT HIS SON-IN LAW FROM THE OPERATING TABLE, AND AS HE WAS ABOUT TO RECEIVE THE ANESTHETIC, TOLD HIM THIS.
“DO NOT WORRY SON. I’M AT PERFECT PEACE WITH THE SURGERY AND YOU PERFORMING IT. JUST DO YOUR BEST TO REMEMBER THAT IF IT DOESN’T GO WELL AND SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME, YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW IS GOING TO LIVE WITH YOU AND YOUR WIFE.”
THE WORLD CAN ONLY FIND A TEMPORARY CEASING OF HOSTILITIES, NOT A PERMANENT PEACE. IN THE LAST 4000 YEARS IT IS RECKONED THERE HAVE BEEN ONLY 268 YEARS WITHOUT A , WAR. BEFORE WWII THERE WAS AN AVERAGE OF 2.61 WARS PER YEAR. AFTER THE WAR TO END ALL WARS, AND OUR ORGANIZED EFFORTS FOR WORLD PEACE THAT NUMBER HAS INCREASED TO AN AVERAGE OF 3 NEW WARS PER YEAR.
THE PEACE OF THIS WORLD IS NOT THE PEACE THAT CHRIST WISHES FOR HIS FOLLOWERS. THE PEACE OF GOD IS OFTEN COMPARED TO A HURRICANE. THE HURRICANE IS A HUGE OUTER RING THAT SPINS AND CHURNS UP DEBRIS AT INCREDIBLE SPEEDS AND BRINGS GREAT VIOLENCE AND DESTRUCTION. YET IN THE EYE OF THE HURRICANE IT IS ABSOLUTELY CALM AND SERENE, UTTERLY PEACEFUL. THE PEACE CHRIST WANTS FOR HIS PEOPLE IS THE EYE OF THE STORM.
PAUL TEACHES:
PHILIPPIANS 4:7: AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS.
PEACE FOR THE CHRISTIAN IS NOT FOUND IN THE ABSENCE OF TROUBLE OR HOSTILITY, OR PERSONAL TURMOIL. IT IS FOUND IN THE POSITIVE PRESENCE OF OUR BLESSED SAVIOUR.
GOD’S PEACE IS RELATIONAL NOT CIRCUMSTANTIAL. GOD SOMETIMES CALMS THE STORMS, BUT AT OTHER TIMES HE ALLOWS THE STORMS TO RAGE ON AND CALMS YOUR HEART.
ISAIAH 26:3-4:
YOU WILL KEEP IN PERFECT PEACE THOSE WHOSE MINDS ARE STEADFAST, BECAUSE THEY TRUST IN YOU. 4 TRUST IN THE LORD FOREVER, FOR THE LORD, THE LORD HIMSELF, IS THE ROCK ETERNAL
THE PEACE OF CHRIST IS THE DIVINE EXCHANGE. YOU GIVE YOUR ANXIETIES TO HIM, AND THE LORD WILL GIVE YOU PEACE IN RETURN.
THERE IS NOTHING MORE COMFORTING THAN A CLEAR VISION FRO THE LORD AS TO YOUR FUTURE, OR THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH. SUCH VISIONS MAY TAKE COURAGE, AND TAKE YOU OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE.
THE PEACE OF CHRIST THOUGH WILL BE YOUR STRENGTH AS YOU MEET THE TURMOIL OF THE DAY. THE HEBREW WORD FOR PEACE IS “SHALOM”, AND WHEN IT IS USED, IT IS A DESIRE AND A WISH FOR A DEEP PEACE THAT OVERPOWERS THE WORLD, AND ALLOWS YOU CALMNESS INSIDE.
JOHN MacARTHUR CALLS THE PEACE OF GOD: “A SUPERNATURAL PERMANENT, POSITIVE, NO SIDE-EFFECTS, DIVINE TRANQUILIZER.”
LET’S LOOK AT THE CONTEXT OF THE PASSAGE:
CONTEXT:
THIS IS ONE OF JESUS’ FAREWELL ADDRESSES. HE KNEW THAT THE CROSS WAS SOON TO HAPPEN AND THAT HIS DISCIPLES WERE NOT READY TO FACE THIS. THEY THOUGHT THEIR LEADER WOULD BE WITH THEM FOR A LONG TIME, AND THAT HE COULD FACE THOSE WHO WERE OPPOSING HIM AND THAT THEY COULD JUST STAY IN THE BACKGROUND. THEY WANTED THE RIDE, BUT DIDN’T WANT TO PAY THE TOLL.
JESUS KNEW THEIR HEARTS, AND HE KNEW THAT THEY WOULD FEAR FOR THEIR OWN LIVES. HE KNEW THE PERSECUTION THEY WOULD FACE AS A RESULT OF FOLLOWING HIM.
JOHN 16:32-33:
“A TIME IS COMING AND IN FACT HAS COME WHEN YOU WILL BE SCATTERED, EACH TO YOUR OWN HOME. YOU WILL LEAVE ME ALL ALONE. YET I AM NOT ALONE, FOR MY FATHER IS WITH ME. 33 “I HAVE TOLD YOU THESE THINGS, SO THAT IN ME YOU MAY HAVE PEACE. IN THIS WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE. BUT TAKE HEART! I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.”
JESUS WAS PROMISING THEM HOPE. HE WAS PROMISING THEM THE RESURRECTION. HE WAS PROMISING THEM A HOME NOT MADE BY HUMAN HANDS WHERE THERE WOULD BE PEACE ETERNALLY.
THIS IS OUR PROMISE TODAY, FOR THOSE WHO KNOW JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOR. THIS IS OUR PROMISE TODAY, AS WE DETERMINE THE VISION THAT GOD HAS FOR THIS CHURCH. THIS IS YOUR PROMISE TODAY, AS YOU DETERMINE GOD’S MISSION FOR YOU IN THIS WORLD.
AS YOU DETERMINE YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE, AND THE CHRUCH DETERMINES ITS, WE MUST BE READY FOR THE ATTACK OF THE ENEMY. JESUS WAS PREPARING HIS DISCIPLES FOR THE CROSS, BUT WE WILL HAVE OUR OWN ENEMIES TO FIGHT. SATAN WILL TRY TO DERAIL OUR THOUGHTS AND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD. IT WAS PROPHECIED BY ISAIAH:
ISAIAH 43:2: WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH THE WATERS, I WILL BE WITH YOU; AND WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH THE RIVERS, THEY WILL NOT SWEEP OVER YOU. WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THE FIRE, YOU WILL NOT BE BURNED; THE FLAMES WILL NOT SET YOU ABLAZE.
THIS VERSE ALSO PROMISES THAT THOUGH WE FACE OBSTACLES AND TRIALS, WE WILL OVERCOME. THE RIVERS WILL NOT SWEEP OVER YOU, THE FIRE WILL NOT SET YOU ABLAZE.
TODAY OUR TRIALS COULD BE HEALTH RELATED, OR FINANCIAL. PERHAPS IT IS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH FAMILY MEMBERS. IT’S ALL ABOUT TRYING TO KEEP YOU FROM THE PEACE YOU CAN HAVE IN FOLLOWING THE LORD, AND HIS VISION FOR YOU. YOU ARE STRONGER THAN YOUR FOE.
1 JOHN 4:4: YOU, DEAR CHILDREN, ARE FROM GOD AND HAVE OVERCOME THEM, BECAUSE THE ONE WHO IS IN YOU IS GREATER THAN THE ONE WHO IS IN THE WORLD.
ADRIAN ROGERS SAID:
“PEACE IS NOT THE SUBTRACTION OF PROBLEMS, BUT THE ADDITION OF POWER TO FACE AND OVERCOME THEM.”
THE CHRISTIAN’S PEACE COMES IN FOUR DISTINCT AREAS:
POINT ONE: PEACE WITH GOD:
THIS IS THE PEACE THAT WE RECEIVE WHEN WE KNOW CHRIST AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. UNTIL THEN WE CAN KNOW NO TRUE PEACE. PAUL TAUGHT:
ROMANS 5:1-2:
THEREFORE, SINCE WE HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED THROUGH FAITH, WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, 2 THROUGH WHOM WE HAVE GAINED ACCESS BY FAITH INTO THIS GRACE IN WHICH WE NOW STAND. AND WE BOAST IN THE HOPE OF THE GLORY OF GOD.
THIS MEANS THAT WE WANT GOD TO BE SOVEREIGN IN OUR LIVES. WE NEED TO BE WILLING TO LET HIM TAKE CONTROL AND TO GUIDE US.
PROVERBS 3:5-8:
TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; 6 IN ALL YOUR WAYS SUBMIT TO HIM, AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT. 7 DO NOT BE WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES; FEAR THE LORD AND SHUN EVIL. 8 THIS WILL BRING HEALTH TO YOUR BODY AND NOURISHMENT TO YOUR BONES
GOD’S PEACE IS RELATIONAL, AND THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN RELATE TO CHRIST TODAY IS THROUGH THE CROSS. IT IS THE PESON OF CHRIST WHO GIVES US PEACE. HE IS THE “PRINCE OF PEACE”. HE IS THE REST AT THE END OF A LONG JOURNEY.
POINT TWO: PEACE WITH GOD:
THIS PEACE IS THE TRANSFORMATION THAT HAPPENS IN THE LIFE OF A BELIEVER AS A RESULT OF CHRIST BEING IN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE.
IT IS A STATE OF TRANQUILITY THAT WE CAN PRAY FOR OTHER BELIEVERS.
ROMANS 1:7: TO ALL IN ROME WHO ARE LOVED BY GOD AND CALLED TO BE HIS HOLY PEOPLE: GRACE AND PEACE TO YOU FROM GOD OUR FATHER AND FROM THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
THIS PEACE COMES FROM THE CERTAINTY THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL AND SOVEREIGN IN YOUR LIFE. HE IS THE ROCK OF THE AGES. HE IS THE FIRM FOUNDATION. THOUGH THE STORMS ARISE AROUND US, WE HAVE THE BLESSED ASSURANCE THAT JESUS IS IN CONTROL AND SO WE NEED NOT FEAR.
THIS IS THE PEACE THAT CHRIST SPEAKS OF IN JOHN 14:27
POINT THREE: THE PEACE OF GOD:
THIS IS THE INWARD PEACE THAT YOU CAN HAVE AS YOU MATURE WITH CHRIST. WE ARE SAVED FOR A PURPOSE, FOR A MISSION. ONLY BY WALKING CLOSELY WITH THE LORD CAN THAT PURPOSE OR MISSION BE MADE KNOWN.
PAUL TEACHES IN PHILIPPIANS HOW TO FIND THIS PEACE:
PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7:
DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT IN EVERY SITUATION, BY PRAYER AND PETITION, WITH THANKSGIVING, PRESENT YOUR REQUESTS TO GOD. 7 AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS.
SAINTS NEED NOT FEAR THE ANXIETY OF THE WORLD, THE ANXIETY OF THE UNKNOWN. YOU NEED NOT BE OVERWEALMED BY THE TRIALS THAT YOU FACE, OR THE VISION THAT GOD GIVES YOU TO ACCOMPLISH.
IF GOD GIVES YOU A PARTICULAR MISSION, HE WILL GIVE YOU THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO COMPLETE THAT MISSION. HE WILL WALK WITH YOU THROUGH THE TASK. HE WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS.
THIS PEACE IS THE PEACE THAT THE APOSTLES HAD WHEN THEY PRESENTED THE GOSPEL AND EVENTUALLY MET THEIR DEATHS AS A RESULT. IT IS THE PEACE OF THE MISSIONARIES AND CHURCH PLANTERS, WHO LOOK TO CHRIST AS THE SOURCE OF THEIR PEACE AND NOT THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES.
THIS TYPE OF PEACE ALLOWS US TO FOCUS ON OUR ETERNAL HOME, AND NOT THE TRIALS OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES.
PHILIPPIANS 3:20-21:
BUT OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN. AND WE EAGERLY AWAIT A SAVIOR FROM THERE, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, 21 WHO, BY THE POWER THAT ENABLES HIM TO BRING EVERYTHING UNDER HIS CONTROL, WILL TRANSFORM OUR LOWLY BODIES SO THAT THEY WILL BE LIKE HIS GLORIOUS BODY
POINT FOUR: PEACE ON EARTH:
THIS IS NOT A RESULT FOR THE WORLD AS UNSAVED PEOPLE WILL NEVER KNOW THIS TYPE OF PEACE. THIS IS THE PEACE THAT THE CHRISTIAN CAN DISPLAY TO THE WORLD AS A RESULT OF THE LORD’S SOVEREIGNTY IN THEIR LIVES, AND THEIR FAITHFULNESS TO HIM.
THIS IS THE PEACE THAT YOU HAVE WHEN YOUR WORLD IS FALLING APART AROUND YOU. IT IS THE PEACE THAT PAUL SPOKE OF:
2 TIMOTHY 1:12: THAT IS WHY I AM SUFFERING AS I AM. YET THIS IS NO CAUSE FOR SHAME, BECAUSE I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED, AND AM CONVINCED THAT HE IS ABLE TO GUARD WHAT I HAVE ENTRUSTED TO HIM UNTIL THAT DAY.
THIS IS THE PEACE THAT YOU HAVE WHEN YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN THE WILL OF THE LORD, THAT YOU KNOW YOU ARE EXACTLY WHERE YOU NEED TO BE, DOING THE THINGS THAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO.
OUR SENSE OF SELF WORTH SHOULD NOT COME FROM THE PEOPLE AROUND US, BUT FROM THE LORD HIMSELF. TO KNOW GOD INTIMATELY, TO KNOW THAT HE HAS SPOKEN TO YOU AND THAT YOU ARE DOING WHAT HE WANTS YOU TO WILL ALWAYS BRING YOU PEACE. REMEMBER PETER HEEDED THE CALL OF CHRIST TO GET OUT OF THE BOAT, NOT THE CALL OF THE DISCIPLES TO STAY IN IT. THE ONLY TIME HE SANK WAS WHEN HE TOOK HIS EYES OFF CHRIST.
CONCLUSION:
THE PEACE OF GOD CAN BE LIKENED TO A HURRICANE. IT HAS A HUGE OUTER RING THAT SPINS AND CHURNS UP WATER AND DEBRIS, AND BRINGS WITH IT GREAT VIOLENCE AND DESTRUCTION.
THE CHRISTIAN THOUGH, RESIDES IN THE EYE OF THE STORM, WHERE IT IS ABSOLUTELY CALM, SERENE, AND UTTERLY PEACEFUL.
WHEN IN THE EYE OF THE STORM WE CAN SENSE THE ABSENCE OF IT’S DEVESTATION AS THE PEACE OF GOD PROTECTS US, AND ONLY A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM CAN DO THAT.
THE PEACE OF GOD IS THE CONSTANT OUTFLOW OF HIS GRACE, PURCHASED WHEN OUR SIN DEBT WAS PAID FOR AT CALVARY. SIN WAS NOT OVERLOOKED, IT’S PRICE WAS PAID FOR COMPLETELY. WE ARE JUSTIFIED BY GRACE, AND THE RESULT IS PEACE AND A WHOLE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
KNOWING THIS WE CAN SAY AS DAVID IN THE MIDST OF HIS TRIALS DID:
PSALM 4:8: IN PEACE I WILL LIE DOWN AND SLEEP, FOR YOU ALONE, LORD, MAKE ME DWELL IN SAFETY
