"Problems, Prayer, Peace!”

“Problems, Prayer, Peace!”

Problemas – Oracion – Paz!

10/29/2006 - Marsing, ID

Ricardo Rodriguez – pastor_rr@yahoo.com

Phil 4:4-9

“4Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

“4Gozaos en el Señor siempre: otra vez digo: Que os gocéis. 5Vuestra modestia sea conocida de todos los hombres. El Señor está cerca. 6Por nada estéis afanosos; sino sean notorias vuestras peticiones delante de Dios en toda oración y ruego, con hacimiento de gracias. 7Y la paz de Dios, que sobrepuja todo entendimiento, guardará vuestros corazones y vuestros entendimientos en Cristo Jesús. 8Por lo demás, hermanos, todo lo que es verdadero, todo lo honesto, todo lo justo, todo lo puro, todo lo amable, todo lo que es de buen nombre; si hay virtud alguna, si alguna alabanza, en esto pensad. 9Lo que aprendisteis y recibisteis y oísteis y visteis en mí, esto haced; y el Dios de paz será con vosotros.”

We live in a World of many troubles, trials and tribulations. Seems like one problem after another. It seems as if the dark cloud will never go away.

We are not the exception of time:

(Adapted from: Prayer 4- Problems, peace and prayer by Ewen Huffman)

A world with superpowers and states causing wars

A hostile world, with crooked people after their own gain, not considering the needs of others… the rights of the human being

Christians in doubt and fear- and danger of persecution.

Being locked up in parts of the world for trying to help people and set them free!

KEY Christian voices all but suppressed- don’t talk about Jesus

- some of the ‘star leaders in prison’ for just that

Squabbles and disagreeing: often outside the church, certainly in the workplace…

people hard to work with.

- even squabbling within the church.

People not agreeing, and some thinking they were better and ‘more spiritual’ than others

That was the world of the book of Philippians

I could talk all night long of the different problems we face but you see there is a light that breaks through the clouds.

Prayer will break through the Problems!!

When we call on Jesus, no matter what size of storm we are facing, Jesus is the answer!!

Jer 33:3

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

“Clama á mí, y te responderé, y te enseñaré cosas grandes y dificultosas que tú no sabes.”

Mark 4:37-41

“37And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, "Peace, be still." And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40And he said unto them, "Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? " 41And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

“37Y se levantó una grande tempestad de viento, y echaba las olas en el barco, de tal manera que ya se henchía. 38Y él estaba en la popa, durmiendo sobre un cabezal, y le despertaron, y le dicen: ¿Maestro, no tienes cuidado que perecemos? 39Y levantándose, increpó al viento, y dijo á la mar: Calla, enmudece. Y cesó el viento, y fué hecha grande bonanza. 40Y á ellos dijo: ¿Por qué estáis así amedrentados? ¿Cómo no tenéis fe? 41Y temieron con gran temor, y decían el uno al otro. ¿Quién es éste, que aun el viento y la mar le obedecen?”

The Peace of Christ!!

We practice a greeting of “Paz de Cristo!”, when we greet one another. This means, there is peace in Christ! Paul wanted the Philippians to experience this genuine peace.

John 16:33

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”