Peace Verse
John 14:27 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.
This morning, we will put a spotlight on this verse of JESUS. And really break it down to understand what our LORD is teaching us. Are you okay with that? Alright, how do we break this down? Simple really, we break it down the way JESUS did it and understand what JESUS meant. So here's how:
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.
So what is this PEACE that our LORD is talking about? Peace is Shalom in HEBREW. It's an all encompassing word. It is infact one of my favorite words in HEBREW - SHALOM. Lets all say that Shalom.
SHALOM - Is Peace, Its Completeness, its Wholeness. When stretched, Shalom means prosperity and security. What a wonderful word right! It is such a wonderful word that it's a greetings of BLESSINGS to another person!
For the Jews - They Say "Shalom Aleichem" to each other and the proper response is Aleichem Shalom. Peace Unto You and in response Unto You Peace.
For the Muslims the same thing. “As-salaam alaikum” (a-lay-kum). It means “Peace be with you”. In reply, a Muslim will say, “Wa-alaikum as-salaam” – which means “And peace be with you too.”
For Catholics are also familiar with this term as in the holy mass they say Peace be with you and the response is and also with you.
My son has a joke about this, yesterday when I greeted him shalom in the morning. He said for filipinos its not the same dad. Sa mga pinoy, lalo na sa mga babae - ang greetings ay - Oi, any payat mo na ha! Oh, ikaw din ha! In English - You look so fine girl! Or you've slimmed down! Oh you too! That’s the proper response even though its not true! Hahaha. But seriously. Shalom is a beautiful word.
Shalom is mentioned more than 500 times in the bible more than the word GRACE.
And that says a lot. I mean GRACE is a big word but PEACE is mentioned more and I believe the LORD is telling us something here.
So this PEACE that JESUS talks about, the SHALOM is what Jesus LEAVES to US! He said PEACE I LEAVE with YOU! I context, this chapter of JOHN is where JESUS was already telling his disciples that he was going to leave, that he was going to heaven to prepare the rooms for those who believes in him. This is our eternal resting place. So when JESUS says PEACE I leave with you, HE means that he doesn’t leave us as orphans of the world. He leaves the SHALOM That he brought to EARTH to US! He leaves it - he says I leave Peace, prosperity, wholeness, completeness, security - he leaves it with us!
And then, he says MY PEACE I give you! What do you call anything given to you freely? IT's called a GIFT! A GIFT! So Jesus is gifting us with his brand of PEACE! It is MY PEACE - He says! What does that mean? What is the difference between the PEACE he left to us with the brand of PEACE, the JESUS PEACE that he gifts us with! Well, we have a verse reference to help us and that is found in
Ephesians 2:14 - For he himself is our peace . . . . .
So this peace, the MY PEACE that JESUS mentions here is HIMSELF! He gives HIS life to us and for us! HIS life is HIS gift and with it comes the PEACE that only JESUS gives.
There is a fundamental truth that we learn here - WE can never have Peace from GOD when you are NOT AT PEACE with GOD.
Lets look at the first two phrases of JESUS again - Peace I leave with you ; my peace I give you - and we see here is that it is separated by a SEMICOLON! That is not an accident. A semicolon separates these two important phrases and JESUS is telling us that they are very much related. We can never have this PEACE that JESUS is leaving to us - if we do not have PEACE with GOD! And ONLY JESUS can reconcile us with GOD!
Genesis 3 details the beginning of our separation from GOD. When man decided to be like GOD instead of being at PEACE with GOD! PRIDE took over PEACE and SIN was ushered into the world. Like a virus, SIN quickly spread like wildfire. BUT at the same time, in the same chapter Genesis Chapter 3, that GOD set into motion his PLAN to restore PEACE.
That shows the heart of GOD! GOD wants us to have peace with him because only then can we get peace from HIM! And that is through JESUS!
Lets go back to our chapter today. John in verse 6 Jesus says:
Jesus answered, “I am t he way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
No one goes to the father except through JESUS. No one can have Peace with GOD except through JESUS! And the great part here is this. Remember, I said earlier that JESUS himself is PEACE! He Himself is PEACE! In this verse, verse 6 - JESUS emphasizes the power that separates HIM from the other world religions out there. Now I mention this because. Our overarching verse - John 14:27 - Says
PEACE I leave with you, MY PEACE I give you - then he continues to the next phrase:
I DO NOT give to you as the world gives - JESUS is separating himself from the other world religions here. The other beliefs that dominate societies and world views. The other world religions try to make us become GOOD people, and when we become GOOD people, we have a chance to be one with small letters god! When our GOOD DEEDS outweigh our BAD DEEDS. When we do more good than bad then we have a chance to be one with GOD! I know all to well as I was once like that. I have walked the life of a HINDU, I was once a NEW AGE THINKER, an AGNOSTIC. And so you can imagine how much time, effort and understanding I have put in to searching for this PEACE. TRUE PEACE. No other religion teaches to be at PEACE with GOD, they teach to be at peace with yourself and do good in the hopes that we become one with god. And this is sad because as GENESIS 3 says, ALL people will die! And that’s a fact. It's now a question of what happens after we die. With the other religions, we don’t have to look any further for all their gods are also dead, they are eternally dead! BUT the GOD of the bible, our GOD lives. Yes, as humans we will all die one day BUT our LORD and savior JESUS is the only one who can resurrect the dead back to life in eternal glory and reconciliation with GOD. That is true oneness with GOD. Only GOD can do what a GOD can do.
I DO NOT GIVE AS THE world GIVES - JESUS says. you and I know as Christians, we know JESUS, okay we can admit that he is the way the truth and the life. Okay! We know we will go to heaven when we believe in JESUS, that right. BUT while on earth what do we do? We don't find our PEACE with GOD but in somewhere else! Am I right?
While on earth, worldly pleasures replace our time with GOD. We try to find peace in places that give us temporary solace, temporary comfort, temporary peace. It's very evident when we see many believers go on a vacation to leave their problems behind and take a break from all the stresses of life and leave. And worst, sometimes we even loan money to go out and have a great time and just escape muna for a while. BUT then vacation ends and we come back much worst that when we started! Am I right or am I right? Christians try to find peace elsewhere - either in drowning in alcohol, especially with friends who are really fun to be with as long as there is alcohol at the center of the table right? Back in college, I was in my pre-med course, a very stressfull one and everytime we finish one exam, we reward ourselves with alcohol even if there are 3 or 4 more exams just a few days after! Some of my friends result to DRUGS as their mode of PEACE and comfort. And as we get older, our escape from problems becomes binging on NETFLIX, or YOUTUBE or DOOM SCROLLING right! It's a escape! Our SEARCH for PEACE in the world will only lead to anxiety, stress, depression. This is the warning of JESUS - right here in our verse - I DO NOT GIVE AS THE WORD GIVE so DO NOT SEARCH FOR PEACE Elsewhere -
Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
This word REST here is the Hebrew word Shalom! Amazing right. And that’s one of our goals every Sunday to have this time of REST. This time of PEACE with God in church right!
We find PEACE in the PRESENCE OF GOD!
There is something about being in Church that gives us peace, and that is the presence of GOD! After a long week of work, studies or finishing a project, after a long week of dealing with issues, problems, challenges. We find peace in the presence of GOD in church.
Praise BE To God!
Okay, lets remember our verse again. John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. AND WE come to the LAST PART: Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Okay, so this right here my dear brothers and sisters is actually a COMMAND from JESUS: The command is not to let your hearts be troubled AND do not be afraid. So JESUS being JESUS, the great all knowing all powerful GOD who knows what we are going through is stating a premise here. HE knows we are troubled and afraid and HE commands us not to be!
You know many of us would like to believe that we are WARRIORS of GOD but in reality we are Professional WORRIERS. Not Warriors but Worriers. Laging nag woworry, balisa, ligalig, aburido o nababagabag.
Jesus knows this, He knows where you are, he knows your concerns, he knows your problems. He knows about your health challenges, your mental health issues. He knows – and yet he commands us to not let our hearts be troubled – He commands us, do not be afraid.
How many of you have been watching the events that is happening in the West Philippine Sea? How many of you have been watching the news about it? How many of you are concerned about your health? How many of you are wondering how are you going to pay for your mounting debt? Ilan sa inyo ang may pinagkakautangan at di alam paano lutasin ito? How many of you, at the beginning of this month, is already worrying about how to pay for rent at the end of this month?
Know that you are NOT ALONE! Many years back, I have gone through one the worst financial crisis in my life. I know I have told some of you this story already, It was a time of great stress, back then we had 3 kids and one on the way. I had no money to pay rent, I had a mounting debt of over 1 million pesos. No money to even buy books that our kids needed for homeshool. We were cash strapped and needy. I cannot even muster the strength to call my landlord to tell her not to deposit our rent check, I just simply texted her with a humble apology na we wont be able to pay rent in time. Very tough so I did what I thought I needed to do – Go down on my knees before the LORD in complete surrender, thanksgiving and praise, I went down on my knees and cried out to the LORD for HELP! I put the truths of GODs words in PRACTICE! HE said cast your burdens upon me! AND I did that! And you know, I FELT The peace of CHRIST! The feeling of lightness! That feeling of being carried or floating, I felt the peace of CHRIST in the midst of one of the most difficult times in my life!
John 16:33
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.”
Clearly brothers and sisters! JESUS did not say we will live a trouble free, problem free, challenge free LIFE! Not at all, infact he said – WE WILL HAVE Trouble – BUT HE is telling us all of these things – What things?
Do not be troubled, cast your burdens upon me, Do not be afraid –
The PEACE of JESUS is with us in the midst of trouble! TAKE HEART!
Take Heart means to have more courage, to be determined, to be hopeful! Take heart means do not worry about tomorrow, let tomorrow worry about itself! Take HEART!
Take HEART is well explained in Ephesians 6:10-15
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Wow! Right! But really the question is are we TAKING HEART? Are we living a life of SHALOM? Most of the time we aren’t? How do I know this? Well if you examine the way we live our lives today, SHALOM is not a major part of it! For some Christians, JESUS is part of their day. For most Christians, they only encounter GOD every Sunday. IF we examine Ephesians 6:10 to 15 closely and in particular verse 12 where it says:
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
We will understand that the authorities, the power of darkness has ruled over many aspects of our life and have stolen the SHALOM OF JESUS in our hearts and replaced it with WORRIES, FEARS, ANXIETIES. And these FEARS and WORRIES have turned us in to sick, struggling believers of JESUS.
Lets pause a bit here and be honest with ourselves for ONCE! And this is my prayer, that we be honest with ourselves today. Are you living a life of PEACE? Many of you will admit that you aren’t. And it all boils down to how you live your life each day. Really this is the bottomline.
The struggle we go through is most likely a mess of our own making and the devil has deceived us without us even knowing it. Everyday, an average of 6,000 thoughts go through our minds, whether these are intrusive thoughts or worldly thought. How does that come to be? Well from what we see and what we hear, mostly from our cellphones. Because you know, on average, people check their phones 140 times a day. More alarming is that almost 90% of people check their phones in the first 10 minutes of waking up. Isn't that crazy? 75% of people cannot leave their phones behind when they leave their house. We have become to dependent upon our devices that we have forgotten our dependency on GOD. Our dependency on others apart from GOD has robbed us from the PEACE that only GOD can give. We have become a microwave society – wanting everything in 30 second videos, we have become more dependent on social devices and gadgets that we have forgotten many of the basic stuff including how to cook! Imagine, it has reached a point where we are not at peace when we don’t get the number of likes we need, the number of comments we aspire. It has come to a point where we don’t have a peace when we are unable to complete a level when playing video games, when we are unable to beat the high score! IN society and our interactions with people, we don’t have peace when we are not affirmed or recognized or respected or honored! We want to be constantly socially connected on the web and yet we are lacking that social connection deep inside of us!
And the sad part of this is that it happens across all generations. YES, that is what research shows that it is across all generations.
Boomers, Millenials, Gen X, Gen Z. You name it. And the worst part is generation Alpha has began to take on our habit. Oftentimes watching on the sidelines as we doom scroll through our media platforms, exposing their eyes, their minds, their hearts to the ills of society, infecting their hearts and robbing them of the innocence and the peace that is from GOD!
We are all affected by it. Infact, from the time we started service almost half of you have sent a text message, or checked their social media, or went on Tiktok, Am I right or am I right? Yes, we can laugh about it but its how the prince of this world steels our attention away from what it important. It's the way of the enemy to puncture the peace of Jesus inside.
And the sad part, my dear brothers and sisters is that, when we do not live a life of SHALOM – life will eventually deflate us, make us weak, tired, sick, angry, aggressive.
DISTRACTION has become the greatest tool of the devil for our DESTRUCTION.
Aren't you tired of all these? I know I am. And so we need to take ACTION!
Brothers and Sisters - We need to LIVE in SHALOM!
COLOSSIANS 3:15-17
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
These verses right here LIVE IN SHALOM:
· Let PEACE rule in our HEARTS
· Be THANKFUL
· Let the WORD of Christ dwell in us
· Take ACTION - Centered on Christ
1. So number one is Let PEACE rule in our hearts. Peace will rule in our hearts when we put HIM first in our hearts! Meaning, as soon as we wake up in the morning. GOD FIRST! It’s a discipline. A discipline to have breakfast with GOD first! I love that scene in John chapter 21 where, JESUS tells his disciples – come and have breakfast with me! Put GOD first by prayer, petition, praise. Spend time with GOD. Have the moment of silence with God as you wake up in the morning and command your day! Command our day means speaking life upon the rest of the day. And then as we go about our day, we pray continually, surrendering all our tasks, projects, our work load, our challenges to GOD! All to HIM. Peace ruling In our hearts is CHRIST ruling in our hearts.
2. Be Thankful. You will notice in our scripture that this is one sentence in itself right! AND BE THANKFUL. So the LORD is commanding us to be thankful in all our circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus). Regardless what we are going through. Scripture says consider it PURE JOY when we go through trials (James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, a whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything)
When we are thankful, this changes our countenance. It stirs up the spiritual realm and shifts our focus from our current situation to the truths of JESUS. It’s very counter cultural, even looks weird. Imagine you are in the hospital, with your child in the operating room and the LORD is saying be thankful. It’s difficult but we are commanded to do so because our thanksfulness invites the very presence of GOD in our situation. A simple prayer of THANKS! Thank you LORD that in this trial, you are with me. Thank you LORD that in this struggle I am facing you are with me! Thank you LORD that in you I have PEACE! Be Thankful!
3. Let the message of Christ dwell in us – This one really is the most practical but requires discipline. First the message of Christ or the word of Christ cannot dwell in us when we do not study the bible. We get our spiritual feeding when we open the book of life, study, meditate and learn from it. Only then will the word of Christ dwell in our hearts. And in bible study with others, we get to hear how the word of GOD is changing the lives of people. Second is by fellowship with believers. When we fellowship with one another – we teach, encourage, motivate one another. In fellowship we live in PEACE knowing that we are not alone in our walk of faith. IN fellowship we get to hear testimonies of Gods goodness. We get to pray for those who are struggling, those who are going through trials! When we are in church we praise, worship and give thanks! WE usher in the presence of GOD that gives us PEACE! Isnt it true, after every bible study, or fellowship, after church we always get this feeling of encouragement, motivation and PEACE! Don’t you want that feeling every day?
4. Take ACTION – Centered on Christ. – when we take the truths of the bible and apply it in our lives. We will surely live a life of SHALOM. That’s the bottom line. In the way we speak, in the way we do things, in the way we deal with people, in the way we handle our business – when we apply everything the BIBLE TEACHES us – Biblical Truths, Biblical Principles – we will surely live a life of SHALOM.
LET US PRAY…
