We long for Peace and the Angels praised God about the Peace He was giving to His people. In their praise to God the angels exclaimed:
Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
But we live in fearful times. How can we have peace when our hearts are fearful? Fear robs people of peace. Fear of an uncertain future. Fear about our next meal. Fear that the government will take away all we have. Fear the economy will collapse. Fear that we will face more rioting in the streets and fear that the COVID will strike, and we fear death and of dying.
Let’s put into context what the angels said in praise to God in what they said to those frighten shepherds:
Luke 2:9–10 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
Don’t be afraid – there is good news. I don’t know about you but there are many times I sure can use some good news. The angels brought good news about the Prince of Peace being born in Bethlehem. There is a correlation between fear and lack of peace. How can you have peace in your soul if your heart is fearful.
In Jesus’ farewell discourse to His disciples the night before he went to the cross (found in John 13-16), Jesus said the following:
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
This question was once asked, "If you could choose what you want most in life, what would you ask for?" The most common answer was "Peace." People want peace in their marriages, families, workplaces, country and world. Our country has some of the best medical and psychological treatment centers, highest educational institutions and worldwide communication abilities. Yet with all of these things, most people are yet without true inner peace. The results are devastating... broken marriages, split families, hatred, rebellion, financial anxiety, a country unsettled and divided.
What is the peace that the world offers? The world will offer you peace through many forms of escapism... drugs, alcohol, immoral relationships, constant entertainment. It is sought through all forms of pleasure, self-satisfaction and positive thinking. Many believe that peace is defined as the absence of trouble. They refuse to face the problems in their lives believing that this is finding peace. The world, however, has never held the answer to true peace.
You can choose to have true peace. True peace comes not from man but from God. This peace is the fruit of the Holy Spirit spoken of in Galatians 5: 22. (Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy Peace, etc.) This peace means to be in harmony with God, to be bound, joined and woven together with God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
It also means to be assured of, confident of and secure in the love and care of God. There is a consciousness and a sure trust that God will provide, guide, strengthen, sustain, encourage, deliver and save completely those who seek Him with all their hearts. This supernatural peace comes first and foremost from receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord. Second, it comes from a knowledge of God's Word.
The Apostle Paul knew this peace. He suffered greatly because of his love for the Lord, love for God's truth and because of his commitment to the commission given to him by Jesus Christ. Yet in all this, his heart was kept in perfect peace. He had been imprisoned, stoned, left for dead and scourged by the Romans, and yet he said in Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Note the conditions of knowing God's peace: 1.) You must love God, and 2.) you must be called according to His purpose, which means fitting into His plan and into His perfect will for your life.
Most reject God's peace because they surrender to their own selfishness and their lust for the pleasures of this world. [1]
Jesus said, (in John 14:27) "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you." A legacy of inner peace is offered to all who know Jesus Christ, regardless of their circumstances. Notice Jesus said “My peace.” Just what is this peace that Jesus possesses and is giving to us? Paul knew that peace. He wrote of it in his letter to the Philippians:
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
“The peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension” is the peace that Jesus gives. Peace that transcends our circumstances. This peace is so different from what the world has to offer. “Not as the world gives do I give to you.” And just what does the world offer us? Jesus said a little later in His farewell discourse to His disciples:
John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
He said
“In Me you have peace,” but not in the world. What does the world have to offer? “In the world you have tribulation.” We can expect trouble and tribulation form the world. Any happiness and peace the world does give and momentary and fleeting?
I read in the news that another peace treaty is in the works for the Middle East. I am not prophet, but I’ll bet my money on that this new peace treaty will last a long as all the others. For over 4,000 years there has been no peace in the Middle East despite numerous peace treaties. There will be no peace in the Middle east or anywhere on earth until Jesus returns (more on this next week).
The world defines peace as the lack of an actively shooting war. For the born again believer, for the true Christian, peace that passes all understanding down deep in our souls can be experienced. What is the bases for Jesus making this profound statement about giving us His peace.
In context, Jesus is taking to the disciples about the coming of the Holy Spirit.
John 14:16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
This “Helper” Jesus says is coming is the Holy Spirit. The word here in the Greek is “parakletos” which can be translated as our “Helper,” our “Advocate,” or I like the KJV which uses the word “comforter.” The Holy Spirt is the One who comforts our spirit, and gives us inner peace despite the waging war around us.
John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
Did you catch that? The Holy Spirit, our Helper, our Advocate, our Comforter will “bring to your remembrance” all those things in Scripture we have read.
Have you ever been in a tight spot and you suddenly remember a Bible verse you may have learned as a child, and that verse brought you comfort in your time of need? That was the work of the Holy Spirit within you. However that predisposes that we have previously read and studied the scriptures. We read the word so that the Holy Spirit may bring to our remembrance those things from Scripture when we need it. The Holy Spirit is bringing us the very peace of God by its presence within us and by the Word of God that He brings to our remembrance.
Paul tells us:
Romans 14:17–19 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.
Righteousness and peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit and pursue those things which make for peace with one another. I spoke on these things over the past two sermons. Do we have peace and joy in the Holy Spirit? And if so, are we actively making for peace among ourselves within the church?
But what else did Jesus say? Going back to John 14:27 – “Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” We have nothing to be afraid of in this world we live in. Jesus makes this statement serval times. Go back to the beginning of chapter 14.
John 14:1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
This verse and the ones that follow, I often read at funerals. Why? Because they are words of peace and comfort. Jesus says don’t be afraid, do not be troubled in your hearts. Why?
John 14:2–3 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
It matters little what the world can and may do against me, I will not fear because Jesus is coming for me, for me! And He is coming for you, those of you who know and love Him. There is so much to look forward to. There should be no fear of the future.
Nor should there be fear in the present. Jesus tells us not to fear those in the world and He puts it all into perspective.
Matthew 10:28 Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
We are not to fear. We are not to worry. We give all to the Lord. We know He has all in His hands. Jesus said:
Matthew 6:25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
So just where should our focus be?
Matthew 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Jesus gives us His peace, we only need to trust Him and seek Him out. And there is nothing this world can do to take that peace from us.
Remember Jesus said He gives us His peace. How was His peace with Him? Jesus had peace when he went to the cross for us. We can have that peace too.
Jesus, the Prince of Peace had come. Remember those frighten shepherds.
Luke 2:10–11 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Yes, we each can have peace individually. And that peace should be evident in our lives and in the life of our church as the body of Christ gathers together. Next week I will talk about the peace that will be coming to our world. It is not here yet but when Jesus comes again, he will be bring peace to the whole earth.
the question today is: Are you today experiencing the true peace that Jesus offers? Do you have the peace of God because you have peace with God? You can be at peace with God today. And because you are at peace with God, you can experience the peace of God regardless of what the world throws your way. We can only have that peace with Jesus. It is all about Jesus.
We come to a time of decision. You have heard the Gospel, the good news of how to be saved. It is all about Jesus. It is all about knowing Him personally. Because of a personal relationship with the Savior, we can experience His peace, the peace of God which passes all understanding, true peace in our lives. The question is, if you know all this, knowing the Gospel, the good news about Jesus, what will you do with it?
The Bible is real clear on this as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
You can have the peace of Jesus today!
[1] Copied from Sermon Central: www.sermoncentral.com/sermon-illustrations/68595/fruit-of-the-spirit-by-terry-laughlin
