PEACE IN THE MIDST OF A STORM
Philippians 4:7
Christmas Series 2008
There are many in this room today that are struggling. Struggling with many different things. It could be worrying over finances, marriages, jobs, church, this that or the other. Some could be struggling with issues that are beyond your control. Others are flat out of the will of God. To be frank, there is no sense of PEACE in your life – but a constant sense of WORRY, DISSATISFATION, UNHAPPINESS, REGRET.
However, there is a solution for each person who is struggling – each person who is worrying, each person who is unhappy and dissatisfied. That solution is the person who gives hope to the hopeless and loves us beyond all measure. His name is Jesus Christ – he can give you “Peace in the Midst of Your Storm.”
Let’s discover what true peace is this morning:
Peace is defined as “A state of harmony, tranquility, the absence of hostility, the absence of mental stress or anxiety.”
With that definition – who is at peace in the house this morning? That’s what I figured.
God’s word uses peace this way:
Hebrew – “Shalom” – completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
Greek – “Eirene” – inner tranquility and poise of the Christian whose trust is in God.
Here is a fact:
1. Not everyone enjoys peace
2. Jesus Came to Bring Peace
A church sign once said:
To all Christians, Merry Christmas – To all Jews, Happy Hanukah, To all Atheists, Good Luck – you’re gonna need it.
Do you want inner peace today, this CHRISTmas? Let’s seek out the Word of God this morning.
TEXT
I. The Need for Peace with God
a. He is the God of Peace
Romans 15:33
Now the God of peace be with you all
ILL: For some, buying a house may be a goal or an accomplishment that will bring peace. But, once the house is bought there is the desire to seek something else to bring peace because the house didn’t turn out to fill that desire.
NOTE: In the text – only through God, can we obtain peace (Shalom, Eirene)
- Every thing – Prayer – Supplication (Getting down to business)
- Peace shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ
b. He is the Source of True Peace
Romans 15:13
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
NOTE: Key word – believing! To know God is to truly know peace.
c. Sin Alienates Man from God
1. Sin separates man from God so that He will not hear
Isaiah 59:2
“Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
1 Peter 3:12
“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”
2. God will not let the wicked enjoy peace
Isaiah 57:19-21
“I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.”
NOTE: “There may be the appearance of joy, and there may be temporary prosperity. But there is no abiding, substantial, permanent happiness without God.” - Barnes
II. Jesus Makes Peace with God Possible
The words of the prophet Isaiah in 9:6
“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.”
God provided a Spotless Lamb, without blemish, to give us Hope, the Show us Love, to give us peace.
a. Jesus makes peace with God possible through Justification
Romans 5:1
Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Justification means “not guilty” – simply – Just if I had never sinned.
Comes through Grace and Redemption
Romans 3:24
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Redemption comes through the blood of Christ, as a payment for sin
Romans 3:25
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (payment) through faith in His blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
Justification through faith in Christ leads to peace with God!
b. Through Reconciliation
1. Sin separates man from God
2. God reconciles man back to Himself through Jesus Christ
2 Corinthians 5:18
All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.
We have forgiven/reconciled – reconnected if you will.
2 Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
The reconnection with the God of peace offers us the following:
III. The Peace of God
a. Description
1. Perfect Peace
Isaiah 26:3
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
2. Peace Like a River
Isaiah 48:18
O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.
3. He is willing to give us peace always, in every way
2 Thessalonians 3:16
Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
b. Enjoyed
1. By those whose minds are stayed on Him, who trust in Him
Colossians 3:1-2
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on the things of the earth.
2. By those who heed His commandments
3. By those who believe
4. By those who let it rule in their hearts
Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful.
Those who believe and obey are the true recipients of the peace of God.
CONCLUSION
Each one of has had or will have storms to come up in our lives. The result of the storms – in other words, how we react to the storms, depends upon our relationship with God.
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.”
PEACE CHILD
In 1962, the Sawi people of New Guinea still lived in relative isolation. They were head-hunting cannibals. Their culture could not be more different from that of Don and Carol Richardson, and yet this missionary couple attempted to share Christ with them. In fact, two rival Sawi tribes, fascinated by the Richardsons, moved their villages right around the missionaries’ jungle home.
But Don became frustrated by his inability to find a point of contact. He was also discouraged by the 14 civil wars he had already counted right outside his front door now that the two tribes lived side by side. Eventually, the Richardsons decided to leave. However, the Sawi response surprised them: "If you’ll stay, we promise we’ll make peace in the morning."
The next morning the Richardsons awoke to see the most amazing ritual they had ever witnessed. The two tribes were lined up outside their houses, on either side of the clearing. Finally, one man dashed into his hut, grabbed his newborn son, and began to run across the meadow towards the other tribe. His expression betrayed absolute agony. His wife ran after him, screaming and begging him to give the baby back to her.
But her husband wouldn’t stop. He ran over to the other tribe and presented the boy to them. "Plead the peace child for me. I give you my son, and I give you my name," he said. Moments later, someone from that tribe performed the same agonizing sacrifice with the same intensity and passion. Richardson found out later that as long as those two children remained alive, the tribes were bound to peace. If they died, then literally all hell would break loose--cannibalism, murder, civil war.
While this amazing scene unfolded before him, Don suddenly realized that this was the analogy he needed to communicate Christ. The next time he spoke to the Sawi elders he told them of the perfect Peace Child, Jesus. Eventually, droves of Sawi became followers of Christ.
Several years later, on Christmas day, hundreds of Sawi from every tribe - tribes that had warred and cannibalized each other for many years - gathered together for a feast for the first time. A Sawi preacher stood up and read in his own language a scripture that few people in the history of the world have ever understood so clearly: "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulders, and He shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Later, the Richardsons would write that it was the best Christmas they had ever experienced. It was the best day the Sawi had ever known.
SOURCE: Adapted by James McCullen from "Peace Child" by Don Richardson (Regal, 1976) in Mars Hill Review, Fall 1994. Pages 62-63.
http://www.preachhim.org/3wisewomen.htm
Friends, at the name of Jesus – every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. And every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Do you have peace in your life today?
Have you ever trust Jesus to be your Lord and Savior – if not, you don’t have peace.
Admit you’re a sinner
Believe in Jesus as the Son of God who died for your sins
Confess your faith in Jesus as Lord
You will be at peace with God and His peace will rule in your hearts!
You may be here today – you’ve been saved – but you’re struggling;
“The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.” Psalm 29:11
‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” – Numbers 6:24-26
True Peace to make it through the storms of life comes directly from Christ – do you know Him today?
