Isaiah 26:1-9a, 12-13
A Piece of Peace: God's Peace
I. Introduction
-Got peace?
-Ppl like to talk about peace!
-But not everyone has it!
II. Scripture
III. What is Peace?
-Peace is another one of those words that we use, but don't really know what it means.
-Excessive use leads to excessive definitions.
-I'm concerned about a Biblical definition this morning.
-Dictionary definitions:
1. The absence of war
2. An agreement or treaty to end hostilities
3. Freedom from quarrels and disagreement; harmony
4. Serenity
-We use it...
1. Financial Peace = no struggles financially.
2. Peace of mind = no troubles/ worries or stressors.
3. Peace in the Middle East = cease fire that lasts; no more terrorists.
4. Rest in Peace = RIP
5. Peace at home = no fighting
6. Find my inner peace = self actualization.
-Peace seems to be elusive.
-It seems to be fragile.
1. Rare.
2. Easily lost/ damaged.
-Maybe b/c most definitions of peace have to do w/ ‘ego' rather than God.
1. You expected me to say that didn't you?
2. Think about it.
-Maybe more than you need peace of mind, you need peace in your soul.
1. Maybe more than in your soul, you need peace w/ God!
2. A spiritual peace.
IV. What Brings Peace?
-Everyone is always proposing something to bring peace.
1. Commercials make their claim.
2. "Soothing Peace bubble bath."
3. "Soft relaxing music."
4. These things won't do it.
-Jimi Hendrix: "When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace."
1. Do I have to say: ‘boo'?
2. I hope Hendrix isn't your spiritual advisor!
-Peace is not found in a treaty that is signed.
1. That's meaningless.
2. They can be broken, lost, or forgotten.
3. Peace is deeper than that.
-Money does not bring peace.
1. If just a little more...
2. Peace of mind!?
-Family doesn't bring peace.
1. Kids can take from peace.
2. Romance does not bring peace.
-Government doesn't bring peace!
1. $700 billion dollar bailout!?
2. Corrupt, wicked, immoral, confused, conflicted, etc.
3. Don't rely on the government!
4. Social security? Welfare? Education?
5. And we want to put them in charge of health care?
6. Hope you're not looking for peace in the government!
-Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."
V. What Takes Away Peace?
-They take away peace:
1. Worry, stress, anxiety...
2. The rush of life.
3. Money problems.
4. Job problems.
5. Family problems.
6. Spiritual laziness.
7. Disobedience and sin
-Peace thieves:
1. Conflict with others (family, church, neighbors)
2. Failing to forgive
3. Bitterness.
4. Worry.
5. Sin.
VI. What is Peace?
-Someone said: "I don't feel at peace about that."
1. What's that mean?
2. Your decision isn't making a connection with what you know is right.
3. Sometimes you can't put your finger on it.
4. You are never at peace about a decision you know is wrong or sinful.
-Peace is a deep abiding "rightness" inside.
1. It's not about external circumstances.
2. It's about being right with God... righteousness.
C. You cannot have peace outside of a relationship with God!
-He is the...
1. ...Prince of Peace.
2. ...giver/orchestrator of peace.
3. ...creator/author of peace.
4. ...one who brings peace.
-Point: Peace is found in right relationship with God/ righteousness!
VII. Where Are You Looking?
-Ill. Danny Simpson, 24 year old Canadian, in jail for robbing a bank, in Ottawa.
1. The gun he used is in a museum.
2. He robbed a bank and got $6,000.
3. When caught, he went to jail for six years.
4. In the robbery he used a .45 caliber Colt semi-automatic.
5. It turned out to be an antique made by the Ross Rifle Company, Quebec City, in 1918.
6. Value of the pistol= $100,000
7. If Danny had known what he already had in his possession he wouldn't have felt the need to rob a bank.
-There are some Christians searching for peace, not realizing it is already available to them!
1. It's not elusive, concealed,...
2. ...secret, obscure, or hidden.
-Jesus told His disciples in John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
-Jesus is talking to them about trials & temptations that they will have (he promised those too).
1. But the peace of God is not dependant upon everything else!
2. It's not dependant upon whether or not the Devil wants to harass you this week.
3. Not dependant upon whether or not you'll have a good week!
4. God's peace is dependant upon Him!
-Do we need to understand it to have it? No.
1. Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which surpasses [transcends/ passeth] all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
2. If you have this peace, you probably couldn't explain it.
3. If you have never had this peace you may not realize what you're missing.
VIII. Peace In Christ Jesus!
-The Hebrew word for peace is shalom.
1. Jews use it as a greeting.
2. Some churches will use it as a greeting too.
3. It's not trivial or superficial, but a deep peace.
-The Greek word for peace literally means to bind together or to weave together.
1. Peace w/ God is a weaving together of you w/ Him!
2. A binding that is inseparable.
-Point: Disjunction, separation, & conflict in your life steals peace.
1. That's why conflict can steal it.
2. Hypocrisy wipes it out.
-KEY: Though some have been born-again [forgiven of their sins], they have never allowed their affections to be changed.
1. Their desires/priorities/ dreams are still their former ones.
2. Same as sinners.
-1 John 2:16-17 "For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. [17] And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."
-James 1:14-15 "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. [15] Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."
-Ill. "Don't you think God wants me to be happy?"
1. Making a sinful decision.
2. Leaving a spouse that they "just don't love anymore."
3. How would you answer their question? No? Yes?
-Query: Is God more concerned about you being holy than He is you being happy?
-Query: Does your holiness and your happiness have to be mutually exclusive/ in competition?
IX. Surrender!
-We have limited God to forgiveness of sins and various assigned tasks we give Him.
-Query: What if the work of salvation God wanted to do in your life can make your desires holy?
1. So that you would desire to be holy.
2. So that God's will for you wasn't burdensome or unwanted... but desired by you.
-What if your peace could be perfect?
-Isaiah 26:3 "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."
-What if peace was found in absolute surrender to Him?
X. Conclusion
-Helen Steiner Rice wrote:
"Whenever I am troubled and lost in deep despair,
I bundle all my troubles up and go to God in prayer;
I tell Him I am heartsick and lost and lonely too,
That I am deeply burdened & don't know what to do.
But I know He stilled the tempest & calmed the angry sea,
And I humbly ask if in His love He'll do the same for me.
Then I just keep quiet and think on thoughts of peace,
And as I abide in stillness my restless murmurings cease."
-Ill. Submarine deep under water is not aware of the storm blowing on the surface.
-If you allow Him, He'll give you His peace!
-Maybe today you desire a deep inner peace.
1. Not asking all your problems to go away.
2. Not asking for a signed treaty.
-Just God to stand up in your inner most being and say: "Peace, Be still!"
-Where can we find peace?
In Him, only in Him!
G. Response: Haven of Rest
Closing Blessing:
God gave this blessing to Moses and Aaron for the priests to bless the people who assembled together...
Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you and keep you; [25] the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; [26] the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."
