09-16-18 – Jesus Promises Peace

This is the insert that was in the bulletin on Sunday morning:

09-16-18

Jesus Promises Peace

John 14:27-31

Philippians 4:11-12, “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.”
Paul understood the peace of God: in prison (Acts 16:23-25), being attacked by a mob (Acts 21:30-39), caught in a violent storm at sea (Acts 27:21-25).
Read John 14:27... We are all sinners (Romans 3:23), at war with God, deserving punishment (3:10-12).
James 4:4, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
As enemies of God, we deserve death; but, God loves us and forgives us, in Christ (Romans 6:23; 5:8; 8:1).
Colossians 1:20-21, “and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross... And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.”
2Corinthians 5:21, “He made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Romans 15:33, “Now the God of peace be with you all.”
The world seeks peace in sex, substance abuse, materialism, false religion, power. But (Isaiah 48:22), “‘There is no peace for the wicked,’ says the Lord.”
The Bible tells us we have to believe God and to act on it, i.e., the Holy Spirit indwells all true believers; yet we are commanded to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), and to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16).
The Holy Spirit is our Teacher (1John 2:20), yet we are commanded to study the Scriptures (2Timothy 2:15).
We are to (1Peter 3:11) “seek peace and pursue it,” for we are told (Psalm 119:165) “Those who love Your law have great peace.”
Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Colossians 3:15, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” Look at Psalm 32:1-5...
1John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God’s forgiveness = God’s peace.
Read John 14:28-29... Jesus says the “Father is greater than I,” because Jesus came to serve the Father, as His Servant, the Lamb of God, (John 1:29), “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
See Philippians 2:5-11...
Jesus’ time (John 14:30) is almost up; Satan, coming to have Jesus killed, will bring about his own destruction (1John 3:8), “The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil” (see John 10:17-18).
In John 14:31, Jesus declares His love for the Father. Jesus knew the pain and torture He would receive at the hands of evil men; but worse then that was the fact that He would suffer separation from the Father, as the wrath of God is poured out on Him for the sins of the world.
It was time for Jesus and His men to leave the upper room and start walking across Jerusalem toward the Mount of Olives, heading for Gethsemane.
Jesus says, “Get up, let us go from here,” and as they walk, as we will see in the coming weeks, Jesus continues to teach them what is recorded in chapters 15-17, and at the beginning of chapter 18, Jesus and the disciples leave the city of Jerusalem and head to the place where He will be arrested, Gethsemane.