WESTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH
PASTOR: TERRY VAUGHAN
SERMON TITLE: THREE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT: LOVE, JOY & PEACE
“For God so loved the world , that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:16-18
TEXT VERSE: GALATIANS 5:22-25 “BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE: AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW. AND THEY THAT ARE CHRIST’S HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH WITH THE AFFECTIONS AND LUSTS. IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT, LET US ALSO WALK IN THE SPIRIT.”
IN THIS TEXT THERE IS ACTUALLY NINE FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD. WE COULD COVER ALL NINE BUT WE’RE JUST GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU THE FIRST THREE. LOVE, JOY AND PEACE. YOU’LL NOTICE WITH THESE THREE THINGS THAT THEY ARE SPIRITUAL BUILDING BLOCKS TO HELP YOU AND ME GROW. I KNOW ALL NINE WOULD, BUT WE WANT TO CONCENTRATE ON THESE THREE. IF WE JUST KEEP LOVE, JOY AND PEACE IN OUR LIVES; WHAT A GREAT BLESSING THAT WOULD BE. YOU SEE SO MANY CHRISTIANS IN TURMOIL AND IN CONFUSION AND GOD SAID HE’S NOT THE AUTHOR OF CONFUSION. THEY’VE GOT TROUBLE IN THEIR LIVES AND IN THEIR SPIRITUAL WALK WITH THE LORD. YOU CAN’T HAVE LOVE, JOY AND PEACE THAT WAY. THE SPIRIT IS THE FOUNDATION FOR THESE FRUITS. IF YOU GOT SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD YOU DIDN’T JUST GET SAVED. YOU GOT THE SPIRIT OF GOD. YOU GOT A NEW BIRTH INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD. YOU DIDN’T GET AN EVIL SPIRIT THAT’S COLD. YOU GOT THE HOLY SPIRIT; THE COMFORTER. IT COME RIGHT OUT OF HEAVEN FROM GOD. IF WE HAVE THAT SPIRIT, THAT’S HOW WE CAN FEEL AND HAVE THESE FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
IN 1 JOHN 4:13 “HEREBY KNOW WE THAT WE DWELL IN HIM, AND HE IN US, BECAUSE HE HATH GIVEN US OF HIS SPIRIT.”
WE GOT SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND HE GAVE US OF HIS SPIRIT. REMEMBER THAT WORD (GIVE). GOD GAVE US OF HIS SPIRIT. A FREE GIFT.
1 CORINTHIANS 3:16 “KNOW YE NOT THAT YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD, AND THAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLETH IN YOU?”
NUMBER ONE, GOD GAVE US HIS SPIRIT. WHERE DID HE GIVE IT TO US AT? ON THE INSIDE. IT DOESN’T DWELL IN THE FLESH. IT DWELLS WAY DEEP DOWN WHERE NO DOCTOR OR NO SCIENTIST CAN FIND ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE INNER MOST BEING OF OUR SELVES. WHEN GOD CREATED ADAM HE SAID HE CREATED MAN A LIVING SOUL. HE GAVE US OF HIS SPIRIT AND HIS SPIRIT DWELLS ON THE INSIDE.
ROMANS 8:14 “FOR AS MANY AS ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THEY ARE THE SONS OF GOD.” SO GOD GAVE US OF HIS SPIRIT. HIS SPIRIT DWELLS ON THE INSIDE AND WE OUGHT TO BE LED BY THE SPIRIT. BLESSED ARE THEY THAT ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT. WE’RE SUPPOSED TO LET THE SPIRIT LEAD. WE’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO GO IN FRONT, OR EXPECT THE SPIRIT OF GOD TO FOLLOW US, OR GO IN FRONT OF THE LORD AND EXPECT THE LORD TO FOLLOW US...WE’RE SUPPOSED TO BE LED. IT’S NOT AN EASY TASK BUT YOU KNOW HOW I’M BETTER LED BY THE SPIRIT? BY STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYING. WHEN I PICK UP MY BIBLE I PRAY, LORD SHOW ME WHERE YOU WANT ME TO READ, SHOW ME WHAT YOU WANT ME TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND. THEN I MEDITATE UPON IT. YOU CAN READ THE WORD OF GOD AND GO ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS AND MEDITATE UPON IT WHILE YOU’RE DOING YOUR OTHER THINGS. HAVE A SONG UPON YOUR LIPS AND A PRAYER UPON YOUR HEART. MEDITATE WITH GOD. DID YA’LL ENJOY THAT MESSAGE THIS MORNING? I WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD IN MY TRUCK AND I SAID, GOD I NEED SOMETHING FOR SUNDAY MORNING. I’D BEEN STUDYING ALL WEEK AND FELT LIKE I DIDN’T HAVE NOTHING AND GOD SAID TO PREACH ON “SERVING ME.” SO I STARTED MEDITATING UPON IT. THEN I WENT HOME AND GOD BACKED IT UP IN THE WORD OF GOD. THAT’S BEING LED BY THE SPIRIT. IF WE WANT TO HAVE THESE THREE FRUITS TONIGHT WE HAVE TO BASE IT ON THE FOUNDATION OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD. IT CAN NOT COME FROM US. IT HAS TO BE GENERATED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
NOTICE THIS IN ROMANS 8:9 “IF ANY MAN HAVE NOT THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST HE IS NONE OF HIS.” IF YOU DON’T HAVE ANY SPIRIT ABOUT YOU, YOU DON’T BELONG TO GOD. GOD DON’T SAVE OUR FLESH, OR FOR OUR LOOKS OR FOR WHERE WE CAME FROM: HE SAVES US BECAUSE WE’RE SINNERS. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS. WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US. ISN’T THAT A BLESSING?
IF YOU TOOK THE WORD LOVE AND PUT A PLUS SIGN BEHIND IT, TOOK THE WORD JOY AND PUT A PLUS SIGN BEHIND IT AND THEN ADDED THE WORD PEACE: YOU’D HAVE SOME SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN YOUR LIFE. GOD SAVED US FOR A REASON AND WE OUGHT TO SHOW IT AND ACT LIKE IT.
NUMBER ONE: LOVE
1 JOHN 4:8 “HE THAT LOVETH NOT, KNOWETH NOT GOD.”
BASICALLY HE’S SAYING IF YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO LOVE, YOU DON’T KNOW GOD. GOD IS LOVE AND YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO LOVE EVERYBODY. NOT JUST THE ONES THAT DRESS NICE OR LOOK NICE OR HAVE THE MONEY. HE MEANS EVERYBODY. IF THEY’RE GOOD ENOUGH FOR GOD TO LOVE, YOU SHOULD LOVE THEM TOO.
HOW DO WE LOVE PEOPLE? BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. THERE’S NOTHING BETTER THAT I LOVED MORE WHEN I WAS A CHILD OF 7 OR 8; THEN TO COME INTO OUR LIVING ROOM AT NIGHT AND LAY MY HEAD IN MY MOTHERS LAP. SHE’D BEGIN TO PET ME AND TELL ME SHE LOVED ME. BUT GOD LOVES YOU MORE THAN THAT.
PROVERBS 10:12 “LOVE COVERETH ALL SINS.” THAT’S PRETTY SELF EXPLAINATORY. IF WE GET OUT OF LOVE, WE’RE SUBJECT TO FALL INTO SIN. WE OUGHT TO NOT ONLY BE ABLE TO LOVE BUT WE OUGHT TO BE LOVE. ISN’T THAT AMAZING THAT THE LOVE OF GOD WILL ALWAYS DEFEAT THE SINS OF THIS WORLD?
ROMANS 13:10 “LOVE IS THE FULFILLING OF THE LAW.” WHAT LAW? THE LAW OF GOD. BECAUSE GOD IS LOVE. NOT ONLY IS GOD LOVE BUT GOD DOES EVERYTHING FOR US IN LOVE. “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD....” HE SENT HIS SON, WHY? BECAUSE HE LOVED US. 1 JOHN 3:1 “BEHOLD WHAT MANNER OF LOVE THE FATHER HATH BESTOWED UPON US THAT WE SHOULD BE CALLED THE SONS OF GOD.” GOD DOES THINGS IN LOVE. WE SHOULD TOO.
HEBREWS 13:1 “LET BROTHERLY LOVE CONTINUE.” BROTHERLY LOVE. THAT’S TALKING ABOUT THE SAINTS OF GOD. THERE’S GOING TO BE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE DISAGREEMENTS. WE DON’T THINK THE SAME OR HAVE THE SAME ATTITUDES. BUT WE CAN WORK IT OUT. IF YOU CAN’T WORK IT OUT AS A CHRISTIAN, THERE’S A PROBLEM SOME WHERE. YOU KNOW WHAT BROTHERLY LOVE WILL DO? IT’LL SAVE A SOUL FROM A DEVILS HELL. SHARING GOD’S LOVE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
JOHN 13:35 “BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT YE ARE MY DISCIPLES IF YOU HAVE LOVE ONE TO ANOTHER.” HE SAID PEOPLE KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES BY YOUR LOVE TOWARD EACH OTHER. IN OTHER WORDS HE SAID THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF BEING A CHILD OF GOD WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT YOU AND SEE YOU. WHEN THEY SEE THAT YOU LOVE THEM AND EVERYBODY ELSE THEY MIGHT AS WELL MARK IT DOWN THAT YOU’RE A CHILD OF GOD.
JOHN 15:12 “THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT THAT YE LOVE ONE ANOTHER.” IT’S A COMMANDMENT FROM GOD. GOD COMMANDS US TO LOVE EACH OTHER. THE TWO GREATEST COMMANDMENTS IN THE WORD OF GOD IS TO LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THINE HEART AND SOUL AND MIGHT AND TO LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THY SELF. WHEN HE SAID NEIGHBOR THERE INSTEAD OF BROTHER HE WAS TELLING US TO LOVE NOT ONLY OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST BUT ALSO LOVE EVERYBODY ELSE. LOVE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
1 JOHN 4:11 “IF GOD SO LOVED US WE OUGHT TO ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.”
DID YOU CATCH THAT? IF HE CAN LOVE US WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. I WASN’T WORTH GOD LOVING. BUT GOD LOVED ME ANYWAY. THAT’S THE WAY WE OUGHT TO RECOGNIZE ONE ANOTHER. WE NEED TO LOOK AT PEOPLES SOULS AND NOT THEIR OUTER APPEARANCE. I HEAR PEOPLE ALL THE TIME TELL PEOPLE THEY LOVE THEM. THAT’S GREAT! BUT DON’T JUST TELL THEM, SHOW THEM. WE CAN TELL OUR CHILDREN ALL DAY LONG BUT UNTIL WE SHOW THEM THEY WON’T RECOGNIZE IT. I’M GLAD GOD SHOWED US HIS GREAT LOVE.
1 JOHN 4:20 “IF A MAN SAY I LOVE GOD AND HATETH HIS BROTHER HE’S A LIAR. FOR HOW CAN YOU LOVE NOT YOUR BROTHER WHOM YE HATH SEEN AND LOVE GOD WHOM YE HATH NOT SEEN?” IF YOU LOVE YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST THEN THERE WON’T BE A LOT OF TURMOIL.
1 JOHN 3:16 “HEREBY PERCEIVE WE THE LOVE OF GOD, BECAUSE HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US: AND WE OUGHT TO LAY DOWN OUT LIVES FOR THE BRETHREN.”
I’M TRYING TO GET US UNIFIED IN LOVE. WE CAN’T GET THINGS DONE IN HATRED. WE NEED TO HAVE LOVE INSIDE AND OUT OF THE HOUSE OF GOD.
I HEAR A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT OTHER CHURCHES. I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT ANY ONE IN PARTICULAR BUT I’VE HEARD STORIES FROM OTHER PEOPLE. THEY SAY BOY I WAS DOWN AT SO AND SO’S CHURCH AND THAT WAS THE COLDEST CHURCH I’VE EVER BEEN IN. THERE WASN’T ANY LOVE THERE. I’VE BEEN TO CHURCHES WHERE NOBODY WOULD EVEN WELCOME ME. YOU GO IN AS A FIRST TIME VISITOR AND THEY DON’T KNOW IF I’M LOST OR SAVED AND NOT ONE PERSON WOULD WELCOME US INTO THE HOUSE OF GOD. IT COULD HAPPEN IN A LOT OF CHURCHES BUT WE DON’T NEED IT TO HAPPEN AT WESTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH. I ENJOY CALLING VISITORS AND HAVING THEM SAY THAT THIS WAS THE LOVINGEST CHURCH THEY’VE BEEN IN, IN A LONG TIME. I’M PROUD THE MEMBERS HERE MAKE EVERYONE FEEL WELCOME. YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT WESTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH? KEEP THE LOVE OF GOD FIRST. IT DON’T MATTER HOW BIG THESE CHURCHES GET AROUND HERE. WHAT MATTERS IS WHAT WE DO HERE.
MATTHEW 5:46 “FOR IF YE LOVE THEM THAT LOVE YOU, WHAT REWARD HAVE YOU?”
A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST LOVE PEOPLE THAT LOVE THEM. BUT THANKS BE TO GOD, GOD LOVED US EVEN WHEN WE DIDN’T LOVE HIM. YOU SAY PREACHER, I DON’T KNOW IF I CAN DO THAT. IF YOU HAVE THE SPIRIT OF GOD, YOU CAN.
NUMBER TWO: JOY
IF YOU HAVEN’T GOT THE LOVE OF GOD, HOW CAN YOU BE HAPPY? IF YOU CUT THAT WORD LOVE OUT AND JUST WANTED TO START WITH JOY, HOW COULD YOU?
IN 2 TIMOTHY 3 SAYS THAT MEN HAVE BECOME LOVERS OF PLEASURE MORE THAN LOVERS OF GOD. THEIR TRYING TO START WITH THE JOY PART BUT THEIR LEAVING GOD OUT. YOU CANNOT HAVE JOY IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE LOVE OF GOD.
PSALMS 32:11 “BE GLAD IN THE LORD AND REJOICE...” WE NEED TO BE A HAPPY PEOPLE.
2 CORINTHIANS 6:10 “AS SORROWFUL YET ALWAYS REJOICING.” WE’RE SORROWFUL BUT WE’RE ALWAYS REJOICING. PAUL KNEW THERE WAS AN OUTWARD MAN AND AN INWARD MAN. ON THE OUTSIDE IT GETS PRETTY BAD SOMETIMES. WE GET DEPRESSED AND SADDENED. WE GO THROUGH TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS. AND IN THE FLESH IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS ALWAYS SORROW. IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT COMES YOUR WAY OR WHAT YOU GO THROUGH, YOU CAN STILL REJOICE IN THE LORD. IF YOU CAN’T THERE’S A PROBLEM.
LUKE 10:20 “REJOICE NOT BECAUSE THE SPIRIT IS SUBJECT UNTO YOU BUT REJOICE RATHER BECAUSE YOUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN.” THAT OUGHT TO MAKE US SHOUT WHEN NOTHING ELSE WILL. YOU WANT TO GET HAPPY WHEN YOU’RE HAVING A BAD TIME? JUST REMEMBER THAT YOUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN THE LAMBS BOOK OF LIFE AND YOU’LL BE HAPPY. THINK ABOUT THAT. THE HAND OF GOD WROTE DOWN MINE AND YOUR NAMES IN HIS BOOK IN HEAVEN. HE THOUGHT ABOUT LITTLE OLD ME AND PLACED MY NAME IN THE LAMBS BOOK OF LIFE. THAT MAKES ME HAPPY. THERE AIN’T NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING FUN IN THIS WORLD AS LONG AS IT’S GOOD CLEAN FUN AND IT INCLUDES GOD.
PROVERBS 29:2 “WHEN THE RIGHTEOUS ARE IN AUTHORITY, THE PEOPLE DO REJOICE.”
YOU’VE GOT TWO AUTHORITIES IN YOUR LIFE. EITHER THE RIGHTEOUS SIDE OF YOU OR THE WICKED SIDE OF YOU. THE OUTWARD MAN AND THE INWARD MAN. WHEN THE WICKED BEAR RULE, THE PEOPLE MOURN. I’VE SEEN SOME MOURNERS COME IN THE HOUSE OF GOD BEFORE. THEY HAVE THE BIGGEST FROWNS ON THEIR FACES. YOU COULD GET UP AND SING HOW GREAT THOU ART, AMAZING GRACE OR THE OLD RUGGED CROSS AND THEY JUST SIT THERE WITH A FROWN ON THEIR FACE. THE WORDS TO THOSE SONGS ARE HAPPY. YOU DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO FROWN ABOUT.
I WANT TO SAY THIS ABOUT GLORIA. SHE ANNOUNCED IT THIS MORNING. SHE’S FACED WITH A PROBLEM. I WANT HER TO KNOW TO STAY HAPPY IN THE LOVE OF GOD AND GOD WILL CARRY YOU THROUGH THIS.
PROVERBS 17:22 “A MERRY HEART DOETH GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE.” THINK ABOUT WHEN WE’RE SAD AND WHEN WE’RE DOWN. WE DON’T FEEL LIKE DOING ANYTHING FOR GOD. IT’S HARD TO WORK THEN. BUT THINK ABOUT THAT MERRY HEART ON THE INSIDE AND YOU CAN GET FIRED UP. YOU EVER BEEN DOWN A DEAD END ROAD WHERE YOU THOUGHT THERE WAS NO HOPE? THEN A STILL SMALL VOICE TOUCHES YOU. JUST TRUST IN GOD AND HE’LL CARRY YOU THROUGH. THERE ARE NO DEAD END ROADS WHEN YOU HAVE JESUS ON YOUR SIDE.
JOHN 15:11 “THESE THINGS HAVE I SPOKEN UNTO YOU THAT MY JOY MIGHT REMAIN IN YOU AND THAT YOUR JOY MIGHT BE FULL.”
IF HIS JOY REMAINS IN ME THEN MY JOYS GOING TO BE FULL. WHEN I’M HAPPY IN THE LORD I CAN GET SOME THINGS DONE FOR GOD. YOU CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE FOR JESUS WHEN YOU HAVE SMILE ON YOUR FACE AND YOUR DOING IT FOR THE LORD AND NOT FOR MEN. I DON’T CARE IF YOU’RE SINGING THE SONGS OF ZION, PRAYING WITH SOMEBODY...IF YOU’RE DOING IT FOR GOD AND NOT FOR MEN, IT’S RIGHT. YOU GET UP THERE TO SING A SONG WITHOUT GOD OR FOR GOD AND YOU’RE NOT BEING EFFECTIVE.
I READ IN THE WORD THAT THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH.
NEHEMIAH 8:10 “...EAT THE FAT AND DRINK THE SWEET, AND SEND PORTIONS UNTO THEM FOR WHOM NOTHING IS PREPARED: FOR THIS DAY IS HOLY UNTO OUR LORD : NEITHER BE YE SORRY; FOR THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH.” HE WAS TELLING US TO SHARE THE HAPPINESS WITH THOSE THAT DON’T HAVE IT.
JAMES TELLS US TO COUNT IT A JOY WHEN WE START GOING THROUGH THINGS. BOY THERE’S SOME OF US OUT THERE THAT DON’T COUNT IT A JOY. WE START TO SAY, GOD WHY DID YOU LEAVE US? GOD WHY ARE THESE THINGS HAPPENING TO ME? BUT JAMES SAID TO COUNT IT A JOY. GOD’S TESTING YOUR FAITH. IF YOU LET YOUR FAITH STAND YOU’LL BE PERFECT AND ENTIRE WANTING NOTHING.
PSALMS 16:11 “THOU WILT SHEW ME THE PATH OF LIFE: IN THY PRESENCE IS FULLNESS OF JOY; AT THY RIGHT HAND THERE IS PLEASURE FOR EVERMORE.”
HE SAID IF YOU’LL SHOW ME THE WAY I’LL BE IN YOUR PRESENCE AND HAVE JOY AND PLEASURE EVERMORE. IF WE DON’T ENJOY WHAT WE’RE DOING FOR GOD, HOW IS ANYBODY ELSE GOING TO ENJOY IT?
NUMBER THREE: PEACE
PHILIPPIANS 4:7 “THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING, SHALL KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.”
WHAT’S THE TWO MAIN FACTORS IN THESE BODIES OF OURS? OUR HEARTS AND OUR MINDS. IT TAKES THE HEART AND OUR MIND TO USE OUR BREATH, TO MOVE. HE’LL KEEP US RIGHT WHERE WE NEED TO BE THROUGH THE PEACE OF GOD. YOU EVER BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE WAS SO MANY THINGS COMING AND GOING? YOU’RE BEING BOUNCED FROM ONE MOMENT TO THE NEXT. YOU CAN ALWAYS SEE JESUS AT THAT TIME. HE’S ALWAYS CLOSE BY. JESUS WILL CALM THE STORM. HOW CAN PEOPLE HAVE PEACE IN THEIR LIFE WITHOUT THE LOVE AND JOY OF SERVING THE LORD? THEY CAN’T. I HEARD ON THE RADIO THE OTHER MORNING ABOUT THE COBB COUNTY COP WHO VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING (I HEARD IT AT 6 AM) SO YOU KNOW IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN EARLIER THAN THAT WHEN IT HAPPENED. HE HIT A FOUR YEAR OLD BOY ON FAVOR ROAD AND THE BOY DIED. THE FIRST THING THAT CAME INTO MY MIND WAS WHAT WAS A FOUR YEAR OLD BOY DOING CROSSING A ROAD AT THIS TIME OF THE MORNING WITHOUT AN ADULT?
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.”
HOW PEOPLE GET ALONG IN THIS WORLD WITHOUT GOD I’LL NEVER KNOW. WHAT’S GOING THROUGH THEIR MINDS WHEN THEY GO TO A FUNERAL? I KNOW WHAT GOES THROUGH MINE AS A CHRISTIAN.
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.”
LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE IN YOUR HEARTS. DON’T GET UPSET. WITHOUT THE PEACE OF GOD THE DEVIL WILL GET IN AND START TURMOIL AND HE’LL THROW TEMPTATIONS AT YOU. HOW CAN YOU SERVE GOD WHEN YOU’RE BOUNCING AROUND WONDERING WHY THE DEVILS BOTHERING YOU? THERE’S A LOT OF CHRISTIANS THAT DON’T HAVE ENOUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORD OF GOD AND THE LOVE AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD THAT THEY ALWAYS BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH. THEY LISTEN TO GOD AND THEY LISTEN TO THE DEVIL AND THEN THEY LISTEN TO GOD, ETC...... YOU CANNOT HAVE PEACE IN YOUR LIFE WITH THAT KIND OF INSTABILITY.
ROMANS 5:1 “THEREFORE BEING JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.”
WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD. IF YOU DON’T HAVE PEACE WITH GOD YOU’LL NOT HAVE PEACE WITH ANYBODY ELSE. WESTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH CANNOT MEET YOUR PEACE NEEDS. YOU MUST HAVE PEACE WITH GOD.
1 THESSALONIANS 5:13 “AND TO ESTEEM THEM VERY HIGHLY IN LOVE FOR THEIR WORKS SAKE. AND BE AT PEACE AMONG YOURSELVES.”
THAT’S A BIG PROBLEM WITH CHRISTIANS. THEIR ALWAYS PUTTING THEMSELVES DOWN. IF YOU DON’T HAVE PEACE WITH GOD, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SHARE GOD WITH SOMEBODY ELSE?
ROMANS 12:18 “IF IT BE POSSIBLE, AS MUCH AS LIETH IN YOU, LIVE PEACEABLY WITH ALL MEN.”
HAVE PEACE WITH GOD, HAVE PEACE AMONG YOURSELF AND HAVE PEACE WITH ALL MEN.
I HEARD A PREACHER YEARS AGO STAND UP AND SAY I’M GETTING SICK AND TIRED OF PEOPLE TRYING TO ROCK THE BOAT. THEM PEOPLE WEREN’T TRYING TO ROCK THE BOAT, THE DEVIL WAS. THEY WERE LETTING HIM TOO.
IF YOU HAVEN’T REALIZED THIS YET LET ME TELL YOU, HERE AT WESTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH WE’RE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM. YOU DON’T HAVE TO PLAY THE PIANO. YOU DON’T HAVE TO GET UP AND SING A SONG. WE’RE ON THE SAME TEAM AND THAT TEAM IS GODS TEAM. THE WINNING TEAM. YOU GET A BASEBALL TEAM AND THE TEAM THAT WILL WIN IS THE ONE THAT USES EVERY MEMBER OF THAT TEAM EFFECTIVELY. YOU KNOW HOW WE’RE GOING TO WIN AT WESTSIDE? WE’RE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER AND IT’S GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE JOY OF GOD AND WE’RE GOING TO HAVE PEACE ONE WITH ANOTHER. THE BEST REMEDY I’VE EVER FOUND FOR BEING UPSET IS TO GO TO MY PRAYER CLOSET. I DON’T GET UPSET VERY OFTEN, DO I? MUST BE BECAUSE I STAY IN PRAYER. I DON’T GET MAD. I GET ON MY KNEES AND ASK GOD TO TAKE IT FROM ME. SOME PEOPLE GET UPSET AND THEY DID YOU HEAR WHAT BROTHER SO AND SO DID TO ME? IT WAS THAT SAME SO AND SO THAT CALLED ON YOU, CAME TO VISIT WITH YOU, PRAYED WITH YOU AND THEN YOU GO AND TALK BEHIND THEIR BACK. SHAME ON YOU! AND THEY ALWAYS GO SOMEONE WHOSE BACKSLID ON GOD OR TO SOMEONE THAT ONLY COMES TO CHURCH ONCE A MONTH AND THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY USE PEOPLE THAT WILL SPREAD IT. WOULDN’T IT HAVE BEEN BETTER TO JUST GO TO THAT PERSON THAT MADE YOU MAD? CHANCES ARE IT WAS JUST A MISUNDERSTANDING. WE’RE LIVING IN A WORLD THAT DOESN’T HAVE VERY MUCH PEACE.
MATTHEW 5:9 “BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD.”
EPHESIANS 5:9-10 “FOR THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS IN ALL GOODNESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUTH; PROVING WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE UNTO THE LORD.”
IF YOU DON’T HAVE LOVE, JOY AND PEACE; IT’S UNACCEPTABLE TO THE LORD.
LET US PRAY: GOD I JUST PRAY RIGHT NOW THAT YOU’D JUST TOUCH THEM IN THE AREA THAT THEY NEED TOUCHING IN. WHETHER IT BE LACKING LOVE OR JOY OR PEACE IN THEIR LIFE. I PRAY YOU’D RESTORE THAT TO THEM RIGHT NOW. IN THE NAME OF JESUS I PRAY. TOUCH THEM AND ENRICH THEM. LET THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD BE THEIR FOUNDATION AND LET THEM BEGIN TO BUILD UPON THAT. IN JESUS NAME I PRAY. AMEN
