The Prescription For Peace

The Prescription for Peace

Phil. 4:4-9

I hope that everyone has had a great afternoon and has come tonight prepared to rejoice in the Lord. I know that as we go through the week it seems we are attacked from all sides. We start the week off right with the Lord but as we go along it seems that more and more is thrown at us to distract us from God. We become angry, maybe sometimes we will become selfish, maybe we become sick and feel miserable. What ever it is that blocks us from God will disrupt that peace that God has for us.

Sometime ago the Gallup organization polled Americans about their most important criteria for judging personal success. They apparently gave them a list of 20 or 30 different options and these are the results:

· Good health came in first- 58%

· Second an enjoyable job- 49%

· A happy family- 45%

· A good education- 39%

· Peace of mind- 34%

Notice that one of the top five qualities for a successful life in America was peace of mind. The sad truth is that most Americans want be able to find peace of mind because they don’t have Christ in their life and the others are those who do have Christ in their lives are to busy doing what they want to do to allow Him to provide peace in their life. We forget that Jesus has promised us peace. Luke 2:14 says Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. When Jesus was born the angles declared peace toward all men. John 14:27 says 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. Jesus promises to leave us His peace and to give us peace. And Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. This says that we will have peace and there will be no end to our peace. So why are we so unpeaceful in our lives. It is because we are so caught up in ourselves we forget to sit back and let Jesus handle it. In Gal. 5 we are told that part of the fruit of the Spirit is peace. Peace in our life but to attain it we must do several things. That is what we are going to talk about tonight.

Prayer

Read Phil. 4:4-9

4Rejoice in the Lord always: 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.

Some of you like me deal with the public and lot of people we have to deal with are either angry or very embittered. They all want peace in their life but the problem is they want peace but they want it on their on their terms. Many believe they will experience peace when they get their revenge. Others believe they will experience peace when their political party wins an election. And others believe they will experience peace only when things go the way they want it to go. They are pursuing a worldly peace and many Christians today are chasing this very same worldly peace. James 4:1-2 says “1From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

2Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” This is the only peace that the world can offer you the peace of revenge, conflict, and defeat. But God’s peace is different.