Thanks for reading the sermon this week. This week has been terrible in regard to the weather in my area. There have been tornadoes everywhere. One person was killed in a tornado just northwest of where I live. My house was not hit by any terrible storms, but we've had a lot of rain. Some water did get in my garage, but not too bad. There are more storms called for this week. Please keep praying that all of this terrible weather will come to an end soon.
We are studying the names and titles for God found in the Bible as I am sure you are aware. With all that is going on in the world, it is comforting to me to know that God is called the God of peace in the Bible. He is called YHWH Shalom in Judges 6:24 by Gideon. Gideon was the man that God chose to help deliver the people when they were being oppressed.
While this is the only place in the Bible that God is referred to with this specific language, the idea of God being our peace and God bringing peace are found throughout the Scriptures. One of the verses that tells us about this is found in Psalm 4:8 that reads, "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone Lord, make me dwell in safety." I Thessalonians 5:23 refers to God as the God of peace.
In the New Testament, Jesus who is God come in the flesh is referred to as the Lord of peace. We see this in II Thessalonians 3:16 that states, "Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always and in every way."
As always, we want to examine in what way these names and titles for God apply to us now. How is God a God of peace, and how is the Lord our peace in particular?
God is a God of peace because He does not want conflict and strife to exist between people and nations. It is not God's desire that there be strife and division in the world. These things are a result of sinfulness and the greed of people seeking to take and to posses what belongs to others. When the Lord comes again to rule and reign in righteousness upon this earth, the Bible tells us that nations will study war no more. The swords will be beaten into ploughshares and the spears will be turned into pruning hooks. Each person will dwell in their own place, and no one will make them afraid. God's will and way outlined in the Bible will bring peace between nations and within our interpersonal relationships.
The New Testament is clear that Jesus has allowed us to have peace with God. Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." We were the enemies of God before we came to know Jesus. We had rebelled against God and His ways. However, when we come to Jesus and trust in what He has done for us through His death and resurrection, we have been made right with God through Jesus. We are no longer in rebellion to God. We have come home to the Father and we are the sons and daughters of God.
When we know Jesus as Savior and Lord, He is our peace. In John 14:27, Jesus leaves His peace with us. Because of this we do not have to be troubled, and we do not have to be afraid. There are a lot of bad things and scary things that happen in this world. Through all of the hard times of life, Jesus is there with us giving us His peace and the assurance of His presence. We know that He will never leave us nor forsake us. And we know that He has prepared a place for us in Heaven so that ultimately all will be well.
Knowing that we serve the God who is peace, what should we do? Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount that the peacemakers are blessed. We as His followers are to be peacemakers in the world. We can accomplish this by telling others about His love so that they can have spiritual peace. We can also work in the world to spread the value system of Jesus so that nations in conflict can know peace through following His teachings. More Christians need to take an active part in working to bring peace in the troubled areas of our world.
Jesus is our peace. If you don't know the peace that Jesus brings, I hope that you will let Him into your heart today. Amen.
Prayer Requests
Please keep praying that the storms around here won't be bad. Pray for those who were harmed by the storms that they will get the help that they need. Pray for others around the world that may be facing harm from natural disasters that all will be well for them.
Keep praying for peace. Ukraine, Sudan, Israel, Gaza, Syria, Yemen and the entire Middle East area need our prayers.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Egypt and China. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
Next week, we will continue with our current series. I have two or three more messages on this series, and then we are moving on to something else. I will post the verses on Monday. May God bless you all.
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