(Elab) = Elaborate
(Trans) = Transition
John 14:27 (God’s Word Translation)
27 "I’m leaving you peace. I’m giving you my peace. I don’t give you the kind of peace that the world gives. So don’t be troubled or cowardly.
Intro – What is it about humanity? We have the innate need to feel secure. Security is very important to us. For example, the home security business is a billion dollar industry in this country alone. America, a country with one of the highest crime rates, is also a land of insecure people. (Elab)
Yet we are not just insecure when it comers to our physical person. We are also insecure in relation to our emotional state of being. As evidence, we spend billions of dollars every year on psychological counseling in order to feel secure and to feel better about ourselves. (Elab)
It is evident that we live in a culture where people are afraid. Our neighbors, friends, families and even we spend far too much time living in fear. (Elab – Many are afraid of life and the challenges that life brings)
As the result of this fear, this feeling of insecurity, we often live our lives in a state of unsettled chaos. We stop hoping for calm a long time ago; we now just hope we can manage the chaos. (Elab)
(Trans) – God, to His Glory, has provided a remedy for His children to live in a state of security, no matter what the circumstances around them. (Elab – It is not His will for His children to live in fear or chaos, even “managed chaos”)
Our Lord Jesus gives us an assured security by leaving us with three important elements for security:
I. He Gives Us Peace
27 "I’m leaving you peace. I’m giving you my peace. I don’t give you the kind of peace that the world gives. So don’t be troubled or cowardly.
A. Jesus does not leave His children without the necessities for a balanced and secure life. He knows we need to be secure; therefore He gives us peace. (Elab – His Peace)
B. He does not give us the type of peace the world gives, which is temporary at best, and depends on human factors to be maintained. (Elab)
C. His Peace brings with it a security that allows the recipients to be assured and bold at the same time. (Elab – Without His peace life is full of a troubled spirit and fear)
II. He Gives Us His Love
John 15:10 (New King James Version)
10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
A. In order to secure our hearts, that place where we feel deeply, our Lord gives us His love. Yet to experience the security of His love is dependent on our obedience to His Word. (Elab – This is why some saints do not feel secure - disobedient)
B. Obedience provides the believer’s heart with a wall of protection from the wounds that everyday life can inflict. Inside this wall is known as abiding in God’s love. (Elab)
C. What greater protection for our hearts could we have than to know that we dwell in the love of a Holy, Righteous and Merciful God! We are assured and secured in this position by our demonstrated obedience to His commands. (Elab – It is really very simple, if we live obedient lives to Him, we get the benefit of His secured love)
III. He Give Us His Joy
John 15:11 (New King James Version)
11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
A. As if receiving His Peace and His Love were not enough, our Lord Jesus, to further secure His children, gives us His joy as well. (Elab – The Lord’s gift of security is complete – peace, love and joy)
B. I wondered to my self just why the Lord gave us joy and not happiness? Then it occurred to me the measurable difference between joy and happiness. (Elab – Happiness is a state of mind dependent on external circumstance; while Joy is a state of mind dependent on INTERNAL relationship)
C. Happiness is structured around what is on the outside, while joy is dependent on who is on the inside. (Elab – that is why God’s children can be secure in the midst of a war on their minds, not because of what is going on around them, but because of who is inside of them)
D. We live in fear constantly because our focus is often on the “what” and not on the “Who”. (Elab – In times of trouble we often ask, “What’s going on?” when our question should be “Who’s going in?” – Into the secret place of the Most High God, into the sanctuary of His peace, into the comfort of His Love, and into the safety of His joy!)
(Close) – God desires that His children be secure. He has given us and still gives us those elements necessary to acquire our security. This security is only available through a saving relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. Our security has been purchased by His sacrifice.
