First Baptist Church
Fairbanks, Alaska
805 Sixth Avenue
(907) 456-4923
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Fairbanks, Alaska 805 Sixth Avenue (907) 456-4923 |
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Peace! Philippians 4:7 Mark Howdeshell (12 August 2007) Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Think about it……. Catherine Marshall writes “A king once offered a prize to the artist who could paint the best picture of peace. Many tried, but there were only two the king really liked. One was of a calm lake. It was a perfect mirror for the peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. The other picture had mountains too. But they were rugged and bare. Above them was an angry sky from which fell rain, and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountains tumbled a waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all. But when the king looked closely he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush, a mother bird had built her nest. There, in spite of the rush of angry water, she sat on her nest—in perfect peace. Which picture do you think won the prize? The king chose the second picture. Why? ‘Because,’ explained the king, ‘Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. Peace means to be in the middle of all these things and still be calm in your heart.’” Heart of the Matter The ultimate dream and desire of many people is peace. What is peace? Does it mean the absence of war? Does it mean devoid of troubles and trials? Can you truly get it? How can a beggar on the streets have peace and the millionaire in the mansion not have a clue what peace is? Review of Last Message Last week we reviewed the duality of man, the sin-filled natural body of man and the spirit-controlled man.
· The conflict can become overwhelming for believers unless they understand the nature of the conflict. · Our internal war has a specific purpose. If we could “cruise” through this life without temptation, conflict, and struggle, why would we look forward to Heaven? · Don’t be fooled……..it will be a fight and we MUST be prepared for war. Always remember, though, that Jesus has already won the victory!! We are in a war. Knowing our enemy, preparing for battle, and using the weapons provided are the only way we can persevere. We cannot do it alone! Jesus must be and is our ally and only with His power, His glory, His grace, His patience, and His LOVE can we win the ultimate victory. TRANSITION--Heb 12:11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. The Meat of the Message
Matt 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble . But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Matt 10:34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. Luke 12:50-53 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
John 14:27 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. Luke 19:41-44 41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace — but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
Rom 5:1-11 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Phil 4:4-9 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. The Bottom Line In a world of conflict and strife, the only true peace flows from the Fountain of Life. Give your troubles over to Jesus and rejoice! The Take-Away Peace Prayer of St. Francis Lord,
make me an instrument of your peace; |
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