Thank you for once again taking the time to read the sermon for the week. I pray that everyone has had a good week so far.
Over the past couple of months, we've studied the book of II Thessalonians. In our message for today, we will be concluding that study. It is my hope and prayer that you have learned something from this study, and that you have grown closer to the Lord during the study of this epistle. We will be starting a new study next week.
For today, I want us to focus on one last verse from chapter 3. Chapter 3 verse 16 states, "Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you."
First of all, Paul calls the Lord Jesus the Lord of peace. He is peace in and of itself. In the person of Jesus Christ all is peace in every way. Because He is the very personification of peace, He is able to provide us with peace in a multitude of different ways.
The first way that Jesus gives us His peace that comes to my mind is that Jesus has provided peace between us and the Father in Heaven. Because of our sins, the Bible says that we were at enmity with God. We were fighting against God and alienated from God because we wanted to go our own way, and we did not want to follow the path of righteousness ordained by God. Because of our sin, we were under judgment. However, Jesus came in order to reconcile God with humans. He accomplished this by sacrificing Himself on the cross. He took our sins upon Himself, and He took for us that punishment that we deserved for our sins.
Since Jesus has provided atonement for sins, those who are in Him have been reconciled to God. We are not in rebellion against God any longer. We have ended our rebellion against God by accepting Jesus as the Lord of our lives.
Jesus also gives us His peace as we make our way through this life. He does this I believe in two ways. First of all, He provides peace because He has given us a promise. Jesus has told us that if we believe in Him and trust in Him, we will go to be with Him forever in the place that He has prepared for those who love Him. We don't have to worry about what this life brings nor do we have to worry about what happens at the end of life. We will be with Jesus.
Jesus gives us peace during the struggles of our lives because He is always with us. He never leaves us and He never forsakes us. When facing hardship, we can meditate on His unfailing love that resides in the very center of our being. His peaceful presence will help us through the various storms that this life can bring to us.
Finally, Jesus gives us peace through His teachings. This world is filled with war, strife, and turmoil. However, it doesn't have to be this way. If people would follow the teachings of Jesus, peace would come. Jesus taught us to do unto others as we would have done to us. He told us to love our neighbor as ourselves. He told us to turn the other check, love our enemies and go the extra mile. Following Jesus would make the world so much more peaceful and good.
This we know. Perfect peace will come throughout the entire universe when Jesus returns. Nation will no longer rise against nation. Swords will be beaten into ploughshares. Everything will return to the Edenic state.
II Thessalonians has taught us among other things that Jesus is coming. You can be ready to meet the Lord by turning your life over to Him. Repent of your sins and turn to Jesus for forgiveness. Make Him the Lord of your life, and follow Him wherever He leads. Amen.
Prayer Requests
Please pray for me in regard to a financial matter. A company that I am dealing with is trying to get money from me that I do not owe. Please pray that this will be resolved. Also, I believe that the Lord is calling me to do something new in ministry. Please pray for me as I try to discern His will in this matter. Thank you.
Keep praying for those affected by the natural disasters around the world. Pray that people will get the aid that they need.
Pray for an end to the mpox outbreak in Africa.
Let us all keep praying for peace. Pray for peace in Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Sudan and wherever war is at hand. Pray that humanitarian relief will reach Sudan.
For our prayer focus countries this week let us pray for those living in the nations of Pakistan and Tunisia. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
Next week I will start a new series of messages. I will post the verses on Monday. May God bless you all.
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