Sermon Central
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The Peace Of God
Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Dec 15, 2016 (message contributor)
Summary: As we begin Advent season, let us not forget the God of Hope who desires to not only give us hope, but allow us to live in the hope of his joy and peace everyday of our lives.
The peace of God
Selective Scriptures
Introduction-
This sermon was gleamed from portions of SermonCentral thoughts and contributors.
We began the Advent season looking at Jesus being the Hope for mankind.
That hope had to be more than wishful thinking, but someone who we could put our trust in and someone who would not let us down.
Christ coming to mankind for mankind allows us to hope in the God of the universe, the creator of all things, Instead of hoping in ourselves and being lost in our sins, or looking to other people who often let us down and don’t meet expectations we put to them.
Last week, the God of the universe who we are to put our trust in also tells us that we can experience Joy that does not operate on only our happiness but an inner Joy that has nothing to do with circumstances or items, but an inexpressible joy that comes from a relationship with God.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may be filled with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Instead of chasing it (joy) and feeling empty when we do not have it, God tells us He desires to fill us with Joy. Joy is a gift from God to the people of God.
To experience the joy of the Lord in its fullest, you have to be a child of God.
You have to be in a relationship with the Lord.
You cannot experience the joy of the Lord without God.
So many people want God’s blessing without wanting God. They only want His blessing and His protection.
There is hope for us this morning because the God of hope gives it to us by what He has done for us.
There is joy available because joy is a gift that is available to believers.
Today we look at God’s peace. He says that He offers to fill us with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may be filled with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Phil. 4:7-
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ.”
The peace of God that is offered, we will not be able to understand fully in our normal human thinking.
Because He is God and we are not.
He promises to keeps our hearts, and our minds centered on Christ, who is our supplier of joy and peace.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
The Christmas story is a story of God.
From the very beginning, we see a God that had compassion for a fallen world and provided a plan of redemption that would involve His coming. It would involve His miraculous birth and His persecution, his prophetic announcement ahead of time that was recorded in God’s Word to God’s people, all the way to the cross with His death and then His glorious resurrection. His plan and His story. In His story, we also get to have a happy eternal ending. Those that accept His story and plan of redemption can not only enjoy eternal life with Him, but can enjoy the benefit of joy and peace now.
The carved out finite time where God provided all that was needed for man to have time and relationship with God. A time where peace and joy flows from the heart of God to all that would call upon His name and accept it.
Our text this morning is two verses both from the gospel of John. They are not usually Advent scriptures.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
“I have told you these things, so that in me you will have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Let’s take parts of the Christmas story and see if we can find the peace that God is wanting for His people.
The first thing we need to do is define God’s peace.
Question: "What does the Bible say about peace?"
Peace is something everyone wants, yet few seem to find.
What is peace? It can be defined as “tranquility, harmony, or security.” Depending on the situation, it could mean “prosperity” or “well-being.”
Various forms of the word peace are found 429 times in the King James Version of the Bible.
