Title: Hold your Peace
Text: John 14. (Romans 8:6)
Big idea: The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. (Rom 8:6)
Subject: Where do we find genuine peace?
Complement: In relationship with Jesus and his people.
Introduction: The elusive(!) pursuit of peace is described in modern day music/lyrics...
Song lyrics are the poetry of our modern, post-modern, hi-tech, low-touch culture
1965 - Rolling Stones (I can’t get no satisfaction) (1965) mick jagger/Keith Richards
I can't get no satisfaction
I can't get no satisfaction
'Cause I try, and I try, and I try, and I try
I can't get no, I can't get no
When I'm driving in my car
When a man come on the radio
He's telling me more and more
About some useless information
Supposed to fire my imagination
I can't get no, oh, no, no, no, hey, hey, hey
That's what I say
I can't get no satisfaction
I can't get no satisfaction
'Cause I try, and I try, and I try, and I try
I can't get no, I can't get no
When I'm watchin' my TV
And a man comes on and tells me
How white my shirts can be
But, he can't be a man 'cause he doesn't smoke
The same cigarettes as me
I can't get no, oh, no, no, no, hey, hey, hey
That's what I say
I can't get no satisfaction
I can't get no girl reaction
'Cause I try, and I try, and I try, and I try
I can't get no, I can't get no
When I'm ridin' 'round the world
And I'm doin' this and I'm signin' that
And I'm tryin' to make some girl, who tells me
Baby, better come back maybe next week
Can't you see I'm on a losing streak?
I can't get no, oh, no, no, no, hey, hey, hey
That's what I say
I can't get no, I can't get no
I can't get no satisfaction, no satisfaction
No satisfaction, no satisfaction
I can't get no
... Rolling Stone magazine - in 2004 - called the song the second greatest of all time.
The lyrics attacked the modern world (in 1965) – its commercialism, its obsession with consumer culture, its inability to excite a 22 year-old man who’d grown tired of the status quo...
It is one of the world's most popular songs
• No. 31 on Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list in 2021.
• The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998,
• The 10th ranked song on critics' all-time lists
Why?
It speaks for the masses of people who find peace so very elusive.
Here’s another lyric...
Tell me something, girl
Are you happy in this modern world?
Or do you need more?
Is there something else you're searchin' for?
I'm falling
In all the good times, I find myself longin' for change
And in the bad times, I fear myself
Tell me something, boy
Aren't you tired trying to fill that void?
Or do you need more?
Ain't it hard keeping it so hardcore?
“SHALLOW” – by Lady Gaga
U2
( I still haven’t found what I’m looking for...)
I have climbed highest mountains
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you
I have run
I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
Peace... elusive peace...
On My 50th birthday I was kidnapped:
My Cruise ship Story ? captured to cruise...
“it was fancy dinner night” ( SUIT & tie!)...
after dinner we’re walking by the pool... it's December... there’s an NFL football game on big screen...
Green bay Packers! Brett Farve
...pool lounge chair...
Cruising the Caribbean... under the stars...by the pool... football.
**Now this is peaceful!!!
The main emotion of the average adult American who has all the advantages of wealth, education and culture is disappointment.”
John Ortberg)***...”the human heart has been dissatisfied since we left Eden...” p. 100 (Love Beyond Reason)
(the loss of Eden – the fall ... creates an emptiness in the human heart... a search for peace...
{Depravity shows itself in... Conflict...anxiety...stress...mental health challenges
Our text today is John 14...
In John 14 Jesus is speaking to his disciples about his approaching crucifixion & then his soon departure – his return to heaven.
(it's called the “Farewell Discourse” and it goes from John 14-17 – concluding with Jesus High Priestly prayer of intercession)
John 14
14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.
12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Peace...
The definition of peace begins with "the absence of war or hostility."
Peace is "freedom from quarrels and disagreements; harmonious relations."
The Old Testament word for peace is “shalom” - wholeness/well-being
—everything being as it should be.
The NT Greek word, eirene, was often used when people got along with each other, where prosperity and opportunity prevailed.
1. Our Search for Peace begins with God:
Peace With God Is Primary & Essential – It Comes When We Are Reconciled/Justified w/ God; Romans 5:1
Jesus begins John 14 with this statement/command – not a suggestion... “do not let your hearts be troubled...”
Easy for you to say, Jesus.
Not so easy for us to experience.
**Do not let your hearts be troubled... (“don’t let this rattle you”// the message)
The solution to the elusive peace problem is... BELIEVE IN Jesus!!!
Jesus has a plan!!! ( he reminds us of it here...)
• He came
• He taught us
• He’s about to die for us
• He’s going to rise & conquer sin/death
• He’s going to heaven
• He’s sending the Holy Spirit as our helper – to continue Jesus work
• He’s going to prepare heaven for us
• He’s coming to get us ... judge the world... establish his kingdom and take us to heaven!
• “I go to prepare a place for you...”
Jesus is doing/has done all of the heavy lifting!!!
What’s our part?
Believe in Jesus !!!
**Now, to believe in Jesus means to believe in him more than you believe in anyone or anything else.
And,
To believe in Jesus is to make peace with your enemy!!!
(yes... you are at odds with GOD Himself!!!)
Romans 5:10
For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
Col 1:21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—
Jesus says here in John 14......“my peace I give you...” ( not a mere feeling or mood – but standing; position; identity!
Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ!!!
*** this is the effect of the work of Christ on the cross***
Eph 2: 14-18
14 For he himself is our peace, ... His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
... we were enemies of God
2. To Be At Peace With God – Makes Peace With Self And Others – not only Possible - but an irresistible motivation!
Yes... CONFLICT happens...!!!
James 4:1ff ... What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?
“as far as it depends on you, live in peace with all peoples...” (Rom 12:18)
2 Thessalonians 3:16
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
*** God’s peace is for every circumstance***
Jesus disciples are about to experience great change ...stress... threats...fear.
All of it prompted by Jesus crucifixion...resurrection and ascension.
Thomas says it well ...”Lord, we don’t know where you are going”!!!
Imagine your 15 years old...parents announce departure on an open-ended trip
3 questions...
• Where are you going?
• How long will you be gone?
• What about us?
Maybe 4 ... where’s your credit card? O, we need the car keys too!
3. Peace Is Not The Absence Of Trouble: John 16:33
Jesus: “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.
In Jesus – peace!
In the world – trouble!
So – stay close to Jesus!!!
We still live in this troubled world - yet we have his peace amid trouble & stress... worries... Jesus says, “don’t worry – trust him!”
4. Notice Now - Here in v 1 & 27 Jesus Gives A Command (!):
It's actually a Gift - “my peace I give you.”
A Double Command - “do not let your hearts be troubled” – v. 1 and v 27
The passage starts and concludes with these same words of Jesus ? do not let your hearts be troubled!!!
o Why a command? ... do you dislike commands?
o Jesus commands are always good for us! (Blessings)
o Commands are serious and essential
o Suggestions are optional.
This command is made possible because Jesus established peace – and gives us peace.
** Jesus doesn’t impose his peace on us... he establishes the conditions of peace.
So, peace is a relational word – it must start with (1) God
Next, comes peace with self
and peace with others
and peace with circumstances.
**now...since Peace is not the absence of trouble - we need help!
*** As nice as it may sound...Peace is not sitting by a pool on a cruise ship watching football!!!
** Definition: Peace is “a distinctly Christian possession - the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ and content with its earthly lot.”
5. John 14 also says...Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit – and Peace (!) is a fruit of the Holy Spirit!
Look at verse 25-27
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
***yes...Peace is a “fruit of the Spirit” ...
Gal 5:22-23 “fruit of the Spirit”
**...The blessings of the gospel are not just benefits laid up for us in eternal glory but are a present possession !!!
Christian teaching on the concept of peace:
• The Gospel of peace - eph 6:15
• Christ is our peace – eph 2:14-15
• God the Father is the “God of peace” – 1 Thess 5:23
• phil 4:9 “the God of peace will be with you.”
the Opening lines of many NT letters... “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ ...”
• New Testament (17)
• Romans (1)
• 1 Corinthians (1)
• 2 Corinthians (1)
• Galatians (1)
• Ephesians (1)
• Philippians (1)
• Colossians (1)
• 1 Thessalonians (1)
• 2 Thessalonians (1)
• 1 Timothy (1)
• 2 Timothy (1)
• Titus (1)
• Philemon (1)
• 1 Peter (1)
• 2 Peter (1)
• 2 John (1)
• Revelation (1)
Big idea: Jesus gives us peace... the Holy Spirit grows this peace – we practise peace!
***Rom 8:6 (the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace)
This verse says it so well!!!
Jesus gives peace, and gives us the Spirit to keep this peace.
The Spirit brings the rule of Christ to our lives our relationships and our ministry
Romans 8:5-7
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
John 16:33 “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.”
6. **Jesus' Post-resurrection Appearances Focus on Peace!
***(all while knowing the “start-up” will be very challenging)
John 20:19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
John 20:21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
John 20:26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
7. Peace Is Closely Connected To Jesus Return – And His Fixing This Broken World And Judging Sin.
John 14:2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Our blessed hope...
Growing old isn’t for cowards!!!
***Eternal life is ours in Christ!!! ... no more sickness/death...
APPLICATION...
Now, here comes the “Collision” !!! – we all experience Major stressors:
(which challenge our experience of peace...)
• Money pressure
• Job demands
• Mental Health ...physical sickness
• Family/kids
• School
• Moving...
• Retiring...
•
Hear again the words of Jesus... “Peace be with you.”
So... How do we “practise” peace...embrace peace?
****An emotional discipline - and – a spiritual discipline.
• Hear the words of Jesus ...”my peace I give to you”
• Prioritize your relationship with God....so his peace becomes your peace.
• Hold No grudges
• Hold “things” lightly
• Forgive & Apologize...
• Yes... love your “enemies”
• Build bridges not fences.
• Develop and nurture relationships with God’s people
– if you don’t -- you may begin to feel like an outsider – and quickly & easily become judgemental.
• Feed your mind the truth of God’s word –
o and then pray scripture...
o Lord, you offer me peace... I’m not peaceful today... I confess this and ask you to heal and renew me...
• Invite the Holy Spirit to grow his fruit of peace in your life.
• Serve... gives you joy... perspective...
**Digital tracking tells us the most highlighted passage in the Bible is 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. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
