LIVING A PEACEFUL LIFE Philippians 4:6-7

                                       LIVING A PEACEFUL LIFE

Philippians  4:6-7

Phil 4:6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

ASV

Peace is not the absence of turmoil and problems, it is calm in the midst of them. Peace is not something you are born with, it is something you learn through life experiences. Peace is not humanly possible without God. True lasting, ongoing peace comes from Jesus.  

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.

A PLAN FOR PEACE

Philippians gives us a plan of peace. We have to see God’s word as directions for every area of our life. 

1. Don’t be anxious (worry) about anything. Worry is defined as tormenting ourselves with disturbing thoughts. It is a state of fear. It is what we do to ourselves with negative thoughts. It never solves anything. It is easy to worry about what you don’t know and what you cannot control. It is a human attitude,

2. PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING.

    The solution to worry is prayer. First we must communicate our problems 

     with God. 

     Second we must trust God with our problems. Telling God about what is 

     going on in our lives is one thing. Leaving the solution to God is a totally 

     different thing.  We must trust that God has the answer and will act on 

     our behalf.

     Third we must listen to God to see how He directs us. God involves us   

     in the solution.  We must do all we can to stand against the wise of the 

      Devil.  We must be sure we are doing what is  right in the sight of the   

      Lord.  

      Forth, we must wait patiently on the Lord. He is not on our time. 

      God does not work the way we want. His ways are better. 

3. Take your prayers to God with thanksgiving. Thank God for what He has 

     done for you. Thank God for your present situation. All things work for   

     our good. You may not understand it. But God draws you closer to Him  

     in the midst of your problems.   

     The text instructs us to take everything to God in prayer. The small stuff, 

     the big stuff and the in between stuff. Don’t consider that you can handle 

     anything without God. Little things can easily turn out to be big. The fact 

     that you are still here is a reason to be thankful.

4. THE REWARD.  

     The peace of God with guard your heart and mind

     First, God goes to work on your heart and mind. He guards your heart to

     Keep you in love and trusting Him. He guards your heart to keep you in

     Love with those around you. He guard you heart to keep you from 

     hating your situation,

    Second He guards your mind to keep out negative thoughts. He guards 

    your mind to keep you from being fearful. He guards your mind to keep 

    you encouraged and uplifted in Him

5. God give you a peace that surpasses your understanding. He calms 

    your spirit in the midst of a storm.

Before you can experience this peace that surpasses all understanding you

Must have a relationship with Jesus.  Paul wrote this letter to the Phillipians from Jail in Rome around 60 AD. Paul and Silas had been beaten and thrown into jail In Phillipi. At midnight chained to cell in darkness they 

Prayed and praise God in song. As a result a powerful localized earthquake

Shook the foundation of the jail and all chains fell of that jail cells opened

The jailer confessed Christ and he and his family were baptized.

Paul wrote not from comfort but confinement. Not from wishful thinking but experience with the Lord. Paul wrote not from doubt or fear but with confidence in the Lord. 

We are not talking about peace of the world which does not last, but the peace of God that continues throughout our lifetime.

THE ELEMENTS OF PEACE

I.The Nature of Peace

1. Peace of a quiet conscience (Rom. 8:33-35; three questions)

    Rom 8:34 who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that  

    was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh 

     intercession for us.

2. Peace of a surrendered will

    Not my will but thine will be done

3. Peace of a hopeful heart (Isaiah 50:7)

   Isa 50:7 For the Lord Jehovah will help me; therefore have I not been   

   confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not 

   be put to shame.

II. The Source of Peace                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

 Peace with God (Rom. 5:1)

    Rom 5:1      Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through   

    our Lord Jesus Christ;

III. The Channel of Peace

       2 Thess 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all              

           ways. The Lord be with you all.

GOD IS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR PEACE

WE HAVE PEACE THROUGH A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.

Jesus settled our sin debt with the Father with His death on the cross.

We first must accept Jesus as our personal savior. Accept His death as a payment for all our sins past present and further   John 3:16

WE HAVE PEACE THROUGH JUSTIFICATION

Rom 3:23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; 24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

WE HAVE PEACE THROUGH FAITH IN THE WORD 

Rom 5:1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  

Jesus is the word of God. He put in print for us to live by it. Man shall not live by bread but every word of God. 

WE HAVE PEACE THROUGH PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING

Philippians 4:5-6 

Ps 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And (why) art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him (for) the help of his 

countenance

The peace of God and the joy of the Lord go hand in hand. God does not give us one without the other. 

John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may be in you, and (that) your joy may be made full.

Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13 puts all the pieces together.  Believing in God brings hope,

The filling of peace and Joy through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

SUMMARY  TO A JOYFUL, PEACEFUL LIFE

START YOUR DAY WITH PRAISE AND WORSHIP

TAKE ALL YOUR NEEDS TO GOD IN PRAYER

THANK GOD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO HIM

RESOLVE TO WAIT PATIENCELY ON GOD’S SOLUTION

RESOLVE TO ACCEPT GOD’S WAY 

RESOLVE TO TRUST GOD COMPLETELY

LET YOUR SOLE RECEIVE GOD’S PEACE AND JOY

REST IN THE LORD

Rom 15:13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

WHATS LOVE ALL ABOUT 1Corinthians 13

  WHATS LOVE LOVE ALL ABOUT                           1 Corinthian 13:1-13   

INTRODUCTION

Oftentimes we hear people talk about love as a feeling. I don’t feel love or I feel like he or she loves me. Love is not a noun, it is a verb, an action word. 

A noun is a person, place or thing. Love is how we respond to someone or

Something. 

The movies are full of love stories that are based on looks, feeling and lust of the flesh. That kind of surface, selfish  love never lasts. It's based on circumstances that change from moment to moment.  True love sees each individual as a child of God who needs our affection, sympathy,  empathy 

And help if needed,

In April we celebrated the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus truly loved us  that He gave His life as a payment for our sins.  The question is how do we respond to His love. I Corinthians 13:1-7 tells us what love is not.  Verses 4-7 tells us how we respond to love and  how we should love one another. 

THE IMPORTANCES OF LOVE

1 Cor 13:1-7

 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing.

THE STATE OF NOTHINGLESS

We can have faith and utilize all our spiritual gifts but not have love and gain nothing. We can be a great show for the world, but not pleasing to God.

God has given every believer spiritual gifts to use for good works He prepared for us. He expects spiritual fruits from our work. Without Love

There is no way for the fruits of the spirit to work.  The work we do on earth stores up treasures in heaven. It is the work we do in the name of Jesus out of love that benefits those around us. Ourwork with out love is like a

Drummer out of tune. Without love a state of nothingness exists in our relationship with the LOrd

WHAT  LOVE IS

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

1 Cor 13:13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

1. Love is patient and kind

Love tolerates people. Love does not care if others have a different opinion or a different idea than. Love does not care if you want to do things a different way. 

Love says that I may not have all the answers.  Love sometimes considers that the  ideas of others may be better. Love allows you to learn something from someone different from you.

I believe Jesus was extremely kind. He had been tried and convicted as the worst kind of criminal. He was innocent.  He had been beaten beyond recognition . His own people rejected Him. As He looked  down from The cross He said Father forgive them they don’t know what they are doing    

He had the power to forgive , yet He was kind enough to ask His Father to forgive them. Jesus was sympathetic toward his murders.

He saw the enemy not as a threat but as an object of HIS  love.

2. Love does not envy

Envy is defined as a  painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage.

If I am envious of what someone else has, I am not satisfied or not grateful for what God has given me. 

If I am envious of what someone has I cannot express joy for what God has done for them. Been envious blind one to those who God blesses according to His will 

Being envious is a state of insecurity, It can lead to stress, depression and anxiety. It devalues oneself and makes one hostile toward others.  It is a destructive attitude.

3. Love does not boast. 

We have nothing to boast about, because every accomplishment, gain or possession we have comes from God. 

Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

If you boast in what the Lord has done, do it so others may be uplifted

4. Love is not proud

God hates the proud.  Proud is a deep satisfaction in one's achievements, qualities or possessions. To be proud is to disregard

The work of God in your life. To be proud is to take credit for what you could not do without God. 

5. Love is not rude. Rude is offensive, impolite or ill-mannered

Believers must be careful how we think about others and how we talk to others.

6. Love is not self seeking  It is defined as having concern for one own welfare and interest before those of others.  If it is all about me, others don’t count. I cannot see the value others bring to me if

My mind is not focused on them in love. 

7. Love is not easily angered. An angry person is his own demise, You cannot be joyful or peaceful when you are angry. God is not telling us not to get angry. We must control our anger. Like God told Cain, control your anger because sin is knocking at the door.

Jesus got angry when He went into the temple and saw the temple being used as a supermarket of greed, but He was in control,

Because after He cleaned out the Temple, He taught the Word.

8. Love keeps no account of wrongs. It is difficult to love a person when you have a list of hurts done to you by them. You can like them, but you want love them.The Lord set the example for us;

Ps 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Since Jesus forgave us, we must show forgiveness for others. Forget about the pass, you cannot change it. 

9. Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices in truth. 

This is an area we all can use improvement. Have you ever been glad to see someone get even with another person? Have you ever

Felt good about giving some one the finger?  How about the unmarried sex scenes in the movies. Do they cause you to delete that movie?

There used to be a time in the movies where the bad guys were always caught,  Not anymore. The Bad guys win and the story ends.  Today the bad guys win and they are the heroes. We are led to believe wrong is right and being right does not matter.

10. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things endures all things. 

Love believes the best about others, 

Love hopes the best for every one

         Love endures persecution and mistreatment  by others. It                              

         submits to the will of God to allow evil work for our good 

11. Love never fails 

How does the Greek text define love

In John 3:16 the Greeks  word for Love is agape translated as   love feast. 

Jesus sacrificed Himself for our sins on the cross, It was a love

Feast for all believers. He took our place on the cross.

The love feast never ends. The love feast never fails to be

 for you. The feast is a continuation for you, 

Love is eternal. It does not originate with man, It is the essence of God because He is love.  Man likes, but he cannot love without God. You and I cannot fully understand the magnitude of God’s love 

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S DIVINE LOVE

(1) God is love; but that love differs in its forms of expression with the different relations of its exercise. 

(2) WHAT DOES LOVE LOOK LIKE IN OUR LIVES?

Love, in relation to God's majesty is adoration and worship; 

Love in relation to His will is submission;

Love  in relation to His command is obedience; 

Love in relation to His superiority is humility; 

Love  in relation to His grace and declarations is faith

Love in relation to his good works for us is gratitude.

Love in relation to human need, is beneficence; 

Love in relation to injury is meekness;

Love in relation to trials is patience; 

Love in relation to the want and the woe of a lost world for which Christ died,  is the pity 

(from The Biblical Illustrator 

THE GREATEST GIVE TO MANKIND IS GODS LOVE

 

LETS CELEBRATE CHURCH, IT IS A PARTY FOR THE LORD

LETS CELEBRATE SUNDAY , IT IS THE LORD’S PARTY    Matthew 16:18

THE HISTORY OF EASTER CELEBRATION

People all over the universe celebrated Easter. Many planned trips to be with family to remember the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  His resurrection changed the world forever

At first glance, you would think that this day called Easter began with our Savior resurrection.  I did some Bible research and discovered that the

Easter celebration began the night before Moses led the Israelites our

Slavery in Egypt to freedom in the desert.

Ex 12:26-27

 Then your children will ask, 'What does this ceremony mean?' 27 And you will reply, 'It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt. And though he struck the Egyptians, he spared our families.'" When Moses had finished speaking, all the people bowed down to the ground and worshiped. The Hebrew word for Passover is pecach, It was a victim celebration

 

When Jesus said as often as you  eat the bread and drink the wine.;That is to celebrate the passover. The Greek word for passover is pascha translated into English is Easter.  It is a victory celebration

To understand the Jewish names of the days of the week in Scripture, consider the pattern of days established by the Father during creation in Genesis.  In Greek the names are as follows 

• Sunday - Yom Rishon (First Day)

• Monday - Yom Sheni (Second Day)

• Tuesday - Yom Shlishi (Third Day)

• Wednesday - Yom Revi'i (Fourth Day)

• Thursday - Yom Chamishi (Fifth Day)

• Friday - Yom Shishi (Sixth Day)

• Saturday - Yom Shabbat (Sabbath Day, Day seven)

This is important because the Jews under the law celebrate the seventh day as their Holy Day. Christians celebrate the first day of the as our Holy Day

Gen 2:2 And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested  from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it;  because that in it he rested from all his work which God had created and made.

The first day God separated light from darkness. The light he called day

Gen 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.

In Hebrew day oue is Yom echad

A PRELUDE TO JESUS MISSION  

On Friday the day of Jesus trial, the crowd was given a choice to 

Release Jesus or Barabbas. Jesus was found incident by Pilot

The Roman ruler.  Barabbas was  guilty of the crime of murder

The crowd chose to release Barabbas. A prelude to Jesus mission

1. Barabbas was a notorious prisoner, known for insurrection and murder.

2.  The choice to release Barabbas over Jesus highlights the crowd's rejection of Jesus.

3. This event fulfills the prophecy of the Messiah's suffering and sacrifice.

4.  It symbolizes the concept of substitutionary atonement—Jesus takes the place of sinners.

5.  The decision reflects the political pressures of the Jewish religious leaders faced by Pilate in maintaining order.

6.  Barabbas' release serves as a powerful contrast to Jesus' innocence and ultimate sacrifice.

THIS IS WHAT  JESUS DID FOR YOU AND ME

HE TO OUR PLACE

SIGNIFICANCE OF HOLY SATURDAY

Jesus was crucified on Friday Yom Shishi (Sixth Day). His body laid in the grave all day Saturday - Yom Shabbat (Sabbath Day), now called Holy Saturday.

1. Fulfillment of Prophecy: Psalm 16:10 declares, “For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.” Interpreted through the New Testament lens (Acts 2:27; 13:35), this passage is seen as fulfilled in Jesus, who truly died yet did not remain in the grave Holy  Saturday underscores His true death and the waiting period before His resurrection powerfully demonstrates the triumph over the corruption of death.

2. A Day of Rest and Waiting: The observance of the Sabbath rest, described explicitly in Luke 23:56, highlights a profound moment of stillness within salvation history. This day of seeming inactivity-Jesus’s body lying in silence-emphasizes that redemptive work was entirely accomplished by divine intervention, rather than human effort.

3. Hope in the Silence: Holy Saturday exemplifies the tension between despair and hope. Even though Jesus had clearly foretold that He would rise again (Mark 9:31), His followers struggled with confusion and sorrow. This moment reminds many that God is at work even when circumstances appear bleak, foreshadowing the vindication of Jesus on Resurrection morning.

THE RESURRECTION CHANGED THE HOLY WEEK

Gen 1:24 And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. Day seven  in Hebrew is Shebiy’iy yown  or Sabbath

After the death of Jesus day one is the day Jesus rested from His work on earth. It is day one that changed the world forever. It is the day Jesus was resurrected from the dead.

Day one of Creation is the day God created light 

Day one  is the day Jesus  arose from the grave which is the day Christian’s celebrate.  We call day one Sunday

The greek word for passover is pascha  in English is Easter,  It is the fulfillment of Old Testament  prophecies 

Ps 16:10-11  HIS RESURRECTION

10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. 11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. 

Jesus established the significance of the Passover (Easter) celebration

Matt 26:18 And he(Jesus) said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Teacher saith, My time is at hand; I keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.    The correct English translation; Jesus said I will keep Easter with my disciples.

The name Sunday has a Latin origin around 700 AD,  dies soilis, day of the Sun, The week order was changed from Saturday as the holy day to Sunday for believers.  From day 7 to day 1 

THE ESTABLISH CHURCH

The word church was assigned by Jesus as the name for the Christian assembly.  

Matt 16:18 And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

The Greek word for church is ekklesia (assemble of believers)

This was the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies 

Ps 118:22 22 The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner. 23 This is Jehovah's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

24 This is the day which Jehovah hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

The  church celebrates day one of creation in honor of Jesus resurrection

On Sunday the tomb was open  not for us to go in but to look in and see it was empty. The proof of Jesus’s resurrection  

Jesus resurrection is the true passover or Easter for all believers which the

Church celebrates on Sunday. It is the day believers change from death to eternal life.  However  every Sunday is an Easter celebration 

GOD USES THE FLESHLY MIND OF MAN TO REMIND US OF EASTER

The celebration continued with Jesus disciples through evil intent of the Romans leader, 

Acts 12:4 And when he had taken him (Peter), he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; intending      after the Passover (pascha, Easter) to bring him forth to the people.

Even the ungodly celebrate Easter for reasons that have nothing to do with Jesus. The shopping centers remind us of Easter. Multi  media  ads remind us of Easter.  Those who sell  candy remind us of Easter.

CHRISTIANS MUST SET THE EXAMPLE OF THE TRUE CELEBRATION

The Apostles set the example of celebrating Easter wherever they proclaim the Gospel. 

Acts 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight.

REASON WHY SUNDAY IS A DAY OF CELEBRATION

• JESUS BECAME THE CORNER STONE

Ps 118:22 The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner. 23 This is Jehovah's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

• IT IS AN EASTER (PASSOVER) CELEBRATION WITH JESUS 

1 Cor 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord's death till he come.

 

• IT IS A CELEBRATION OF THE NEW COVENANT

1 Cor 11:25 "This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood

• IT IS THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHURCH AS A BUILDING OF FAITH

Matt 16:18 And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

• JESUS STANDS BESIDE YOU

John 20:19 When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first (day) of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace (be) unto you.

• YOU HAVE RECEIVED POWER

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place. Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

• IT IS A TIME OF PRAYER

 Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.

• IT A TIME OF RENEWAL IN THE SPIRIT

Eph 4:23  and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 

24 and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

• IT IS A TIME TO BE REMINDED OF JESUS JOY

         John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may be    

          in you, and (that) your joy may be made full.

• IT IS A TIME TO REMEMBER THE PEACE OF JESUS

Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

• IT IS A TIME TO COMMIT TO GOOD WORKS

Matt 5:16 Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

• ITS A TIME TO WORSHIP THE LORD

1 Cor 14:25 the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.

• IT IS A TIME TO CELEBRATE OUR LIFE WITH JESUS

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.

SUNDAY IS PARTY FOR THE LORD