The Peacemaker

“The Peace Maker”

John 14:23-31

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

Introduction: For most people peace is a much sought after but seldom attained prize.

HUNGRY FOR PEACE

Much, if not most, of the social turmoil of our culture is due to a hunger for peace, which is sought for in all the wrong places. According to Ronald Hutchcraft, the Director of Youth for Christ in New York and New Jersey, in the next thirty minutes-

57 kids will run away from home. 29 children will attempt suicide. 22 girls under 19 years of age will receive an abortion. 14 teenage girls will give birth to an illegitimate baby. 685 teens will use some form of narcotic.

These tragic statistics reveal that we are a nation in perpetual war.

SOURCE: Glenn Pease in THE FRUIT OF PEACE http://www.intohisword.net/pauline/galatians13.shtml

Peace is.... “a conception distinctly peculiar to Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatever sort that is” (Thayer).When Jesus came into this old sin-cursed world He came to bring peace. The Father sent Him:

Luke 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

The peace that Jesus offers is not the absence of conflict for He tells us in John 16:33 “…that in the world ye shall have tribulation…” He doesn’t remove the conflict but calms his child in the conflict. He doesn’t remove the storm, He settles his child down in the storm. Jesus said that the His peace is different from that which the world has to offer:

REAL PEACE

My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today, I have finished 2 bags of chips and a chocolate cake. I feel better already.

SOURCE: http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh

Two Ladies on a Train

Years ago a man found himself on a train between two ladies. And Unfortunately for him the two ladies were arguing constantly about whether the window should be open or shut. The lady farthest from the window argued that she would die of heat stroke if it wasn’t opened.

The other said she would certainly catch pneumonia if it didn’t stay closed. When the ticket taker arrived the ladies begged to him to come up with a solution. But unfortunately he didn’t have a solution. Finally the man spoke up. "First open the window. That will kill the one. Then close it. That will kill the other. Then we will have peace."

I. The Prerequisite for Peace

a. The criteria of our love for God

There can be no peace without a relationship with God. We may look for peace in many other ways and people do but you cannot have peace, the peace that Jesus speaks of here in our text, without loving God. Jesus is the “way” of peace.

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

b. The confirmation of our love for God

Genuine love for God is evidenced by obeying the Word of God. Jesus declares that a man who truly loves God, “…will keep my words…”

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.