PEACE OF MIND HHM Pastor Jim Parisi May 27, 03
Intro: Something that man has pursued since the fall yet rarely found;
Psa 34:14;Turn away from evil and do good. Work hard at living in peace with others. NLT
Psa 37:37 Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future lies before those who love peace. NLT
Duke Univ. study came up with five points to bringing true peace of mind.
I) Don’t live in the past……….. Don’t dwell upon it.
A) People should not glory in old accomplishments, or wallow in guilt over past failures
B) Bible also says not to glory in our past - Phil 3:3-8; 2 Pet 1:5-8 – Are we a the one talent servant
C) Also don’t wallow in guilt -; Col 2:13; You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins.
1 Jn 1:9 Lk 7:47-50
D) Press forward - press towards the mark in Christ Jesus Phil 3:13; Heb 12:1
II) Refuse to indulge in self-pity
A) Learn to accept and live with some misfortune and heartache
B) Bible also says life will be difficult - 2 Tim 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
; 1 Pet 4:12-19 - but nothing we face is unique - 1 Cor 10:13; Heb 4:15,16
C) Instead use these trials to strengthen your faith - Rom 5:3,4; 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have* peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Jas 1:2-4,9-12; Rev 2:9,10
III) Absence of suspicion and resentment
A) Nursing a grudge is a ticket to unhappiness
B) Bible also teaches forgiveness - Mt 6:14,15; 18:21,22
C) Let God take care of making everything right - Rom 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," F62 says the Lord.
IV) Cultivate old-fashioned virtues
A) Love, humor, compassion
B) Bible also teaches this - Gal 5:22,23; 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
1 Pet 3:8-12; Rom 12:9-18
V) Find something bigger than yourself to believe in
A) Self-centered people are always among the unhappiest
B) Bible teaches to live for our Creator - Mt 22:37,38 – 37 Jesus replied, "’You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment
Having all trust in God - Gal 2:20 I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Concl: Peace is an attainable Goal-
Psa 119:165; Those who love your law have great peace and do not stumble.
2 Th 3:16 May the Lord of peace himself always give you his peace no matter what happens. The Lord be with you all.
And is attainable not through expensive university studies - but in God’s revealed message –- in Jesus Christ
