God gives us perfect peace. :)

GOD GIVES US *PERFECT* PEACE. :)

WARM-UP QUESTION:
Recall an extremely stressful situation :)


WORD:

1. God Himself is our Peace

When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he exclaimed, "Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!" But the LORD said to him, "Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die." So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it "The Lord is Peace." To this day it stands...--- Judges 6:22-24


2. Jesus gives us peace in our circumstances...and in our hearts

Jesus Calms the Storm

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to His disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!" --- Mark 4:37-41

* Notes:

• In another translation, Jesus silenced the storm by saying: "Peace! Be still."

• God can give us peace by changing our circumstances...or changing our hearts :)

• Where is *our* faith? are we calm like Jesus when a storm hits...or are we hurt and angry that He doesn't seem to care? Or do we immediately conclude that He never was with us anyway?

3. Inner peace is more important...because Jesus, the "Prince of Peace", also warns:

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn
'a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law -
a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.' --- Matthew 10:34-36


4. Our peace also lies in the choices we make

Submit to God and be at peace with Him;
in this way prosperity will come to you.
Accept instruction from His mouth
and lay up His words in your heart.
If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored.

If you remove wickedness far from your tent
and assign your nuggets to the dust,
your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines,
then the Almighty will be your gold,
the choicest silver for you.
Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty
and will lift up your face to God.

You will pray to Him, and He will hear you,
and you will fulfill your vows.
What you decide on will be done,
and light will shine on your ways.
When men are brought low and you say, 'Lift them up!'
then He will save the downcast.
He will deliver even one who is not innocent,
who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands. --- Job 22:21-30

* Note:
It is God who saves, but if you decide to do right, you will have His peace and His blessing, and the people around you can be saved through you as well. :)


5. Peace by focusing on Who is steadfast

You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in You. --- Isaiah 26:3

* Note:
God is eternal, unchanging, and ever faithful. We become more steadfast as we focus on our steadfast God.


6. Why the stress? It's all by HIM anyway...

LORD, You establish peace for us;
all that we have accomplished You have done for us.
--- Isaiah 26:12

* Note:
Have you ever felt stressed about not being good enough, as a person or in your actions? Have you ever lost hope in yourself? It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose (Philippians 2:13).


7. This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:
"In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength..."
--- Isaiah 30:15a

* Note:
Where/In whom do you put your rest and trust? We are saved and strengthened when we trust in God all the more and trust in ourselves all the less.


8. Take heart! Jesus has *already* *overcome* the world, death, and even our own sins.

Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God;
trust also in Me. --- John 14:1

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. --- John 14:27

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. --- John 16:33

* Note:
What else is there to be worried or anxious about? God has already overcome His enemies, the curse of death, and even our own sins. We have peace because God has already overcome all.


APPLICATION QUESTION:
In what area of your life can you appropriate the perfect peace of God today?