SundaySermon
The importance of obtaining the peace of Christ
by Ptr. Gerry Gregoire
Scriptural Reference: John 14:27
Date: June 24, 2007

John 14:27 (Amplified Bible) and ACTS 9:31 WE WILL LOOK AT LATER.

27Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]
WHAT A PROMISE JESUS WAS MAKING TO HIS DISCIPLES!
THIS SAME PROMISE BELONGS TO YOU AND ME AS WE SIT AND STAND HERE TODAY.

WE HAVE BEEN LEARNING HOW TO RECEIVE WHAT GOD HAS FOR US OVER THE PAST 6 WEEKS.

WE HAVE LEARNED ABOUT:
1. SPIRITUAL WARFARE.
2. HOW TO PRAY EFFECTIVELY.
3. HOW TO RECEIVE GOD'S LOVE.
4. HOW SATAN ATTACKS THE CHURCH FROM WITHIN.
5. HOW DISPENSING PAIN CAN KEEP YOU FROM RECEIVING ANSWERED PRAYER.
6. AND WHAT IT TAKES TO HAVE A SERVANT'S HEART.

IF YOU HAVE TAKEN ALL THESE TEACHINGS IN, YOU STILL MAY HAVE TROUBLE WALKING OUT YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE PEACE OF GOD.

REMEMBER. WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE PEACE THAT THE WORLD GIVES, BUT THE PEACE OF GOD!

CHRIST'S DISCIPLES HAD TO BE AMAZED AT THIS PROMISE, IT WAS TOO UNBELIEVABLE.

WHY? YOU MAY ASK. AND I SAY GOOD QUESTION!

THESE MEN HAD MARVELED AT THE PEACE THEY HAD SEEN IN JESUS IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. HE WAS NEVER AFRAID, ALWAYS CALM. NEVER RUFFLED BY ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.

NOW WE KNOW THAT HE EXPERIENCED SPIRITUAL ANGER IN THE TEMPLE INCIDENT. AND HE KNEW HOW TO WEEP OVER JERUSALEM AND LAZARUS, BUT HE LED HIS LIFE ON EARTH AS A MAN AT PEACE.

HE HAD PEACE WITH HIS FATHER,
PEACE IN THE FACE OF TEMPTATION,
PEACE IN TIMES OF REJECTION AND MOCKERY,
EVEN DURING A STORM AT SEA.

REMEMBER AS HE SLEPT ON DECK WHILE THE OTHERS TREMBLED WITH TERROR.

OR WHEN JESUS WAS DRAGGED BY AN ANGRY MOB DETERMINED TO KILL HM, YET HE WALKED AWAY FROM THE SCENE, UNTOUCHED AND FULL OF PEACE.

SOME CALLED HIM A DEVIL AND FRAUD. SOME EVEN PLOTTED TO KILL HIM, YET HE NEVER LOST HIS PEACE.
NO MAN, NO RELIGIOUS SYSTEM, NO DEVIL COULD ROB HIM OF HIS PEACE.

IN THE DISCIPLES EYES THIS WAS PEACE THAT WOULD BE VERY HARD FOR THEM TO HAVE!! YET THIS IS THE TYPE OF PEACE HE WAS OFFERING HIS DISCIPLES.

CAN YOU HEAR THEM SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME PEACE HE HAS, THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

YOU SEE, THIS WAS NOT THE NUMB ZONED OUT PEACE OF SOCIETY, NOR WOULD IT BE THE TEMPORARY PEACE OF MATERIALISTIC THINGS THAT THE RICH AND FAMOUS BUY FOR TEMPORARY PEACE.
NO, THIS WAS NOT FALSE PEACE THAT THE DEVIL MAY GIVE.

THIS WAS THE PEACE THAT CHRIST HIMSELF HAD, A PEACE THAT SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING.

NOW THESE DISCIPLES WERE ON THE THRESHOLD OF THE GREATEST TRIAL THEY WOULD EVER EXPERIENCE. RIGHT AFTER HE TELLS THEM ABOUT HIS PEACE HE SAYS SOMETHING IN VERSE 28, 29 OF JOHN 14. LETS LOOK.

John 14:28-29 (Amplified Bible)

28You heard Me tell you, I am going away and I am coming [back] to you. If you [really] loved Me, you would have been glad, because I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater and mightier than I am.
29And now I have told you [this] before it occurs, so that when it does take place you may believe and have faith in and rely on Me.

HE TELLS THEM THAT HE GOING AWAY, HOW CAN HE DO THIS? THEY HAVE DEPENDED ON HIM FOR EVERYTHING. THEY WANTED TO SIT WITH HIM IN HIS KINGDOM AND NOW HE SAYS HE'S GOING AWAY !!! WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO RULE AND REIGN ON EARTH.

LISTEN TO WHAT JESUS TOLD THEM IN JOHN 14:25-26.
John 14:25-26 (Amplified Bible)

25I have told you these things while I am still with you.
26But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.

THEY WERE TOLD BY JESUS THAT HE WOULD BE GOING AWAY AND NOW HE TELLS THEM THAT THE FATHER WILL SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT AS HIS REPLACEMENT, TO COUNSEL THEM, GUIDE THEM AND TEACH THEM ALL THINGS. HE WILL ENABLE YOU TO EXPERIENCE THE PEACE I WILL GIVE YOU.

THESE MEN HAD NO CONCEPT OF THE SPIRIT. HOW COULD HE REPLACE THE FLESH AND BLOOD JESUS WHO KEPT THEM OUT OF TROUBLE AND DID GREAT WORKS?

HE HAD TOLD THEM IN VERSE 28 TO REJOICE, LETS LOOK:

John 14:28 (Amplified Bible)

28You heard Me tell you, I am going away and I am coming [back] to you. If you [really] loved Me, you would have been glad, because I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater and mightier than I am.
BUT THEY COULDN'T BE GLAD. THEY WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT UNTIL AFTER PENTECOST, AFTER HE CAME ON THEM.

SINCE THEY DID NOT HAVE THE REAL PEACE YET, WHAT HE WAS TELLING THEM MEANT PROBABLY NOTHING BECAUSE NOW THEY WERE FILLED WITH FEAR. JESUS HAD TURNED THEIR WORLD UPSIDE DOWN, HE PROVIDED FOR THEM BY SUCH THINGS AS TAKING COINS OUT OF A FISH'S MOUTH AND MULTIPLYING THE BREAD AND FISH.

HE WAS THEY'RE EVERYTHING, WHAT WOULD THEY DO IF THE PHARISEES CAME AFTER THEM. THEY MIGHT STONE THEM ONCE JESUS WAS GONE. TO THINK ABOUT A MANSION AND THAT HE WOULD COME AGAIN FOR THEM DIDN'T HELP THEM.

PETER MIGHT HAVE SAID SOMETHING LIKE WHO NEEDS A MANSION, I NEED A JOB TO PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY!! HE WASN'T CONCERNED WITH FUTURE BLESSINGS, HE NEEDED A MIRACLE IN THE HERE AND NOW. THIS WAS A REAL CRISIS AND I HAVE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, I'M GOING BACK TO FISHING.

DO YOU REMEMBER AFTER THE CRUCIFIXION, PETER AND A FEW OF THE OTHERS WENT BACK TO THEIR OLD LIVELIHOOD OF FISHING FOR A SEASON? AMEN?

RIGHT NOW, YOU MAY BE GOING THROUGH A HARD TIME, LOST A JOB, BUSINESS MAY BE ON TH VERGE OF FAILING, SICKNESS HAS ATTACKED YOUR BODY. EVERY AVENUE YOU TURN TO SEEMS TO FILL YOU WITH STRESS, CONFUSION AND WEARINESS.

THAT'S WHEN THE MIND STARTS THINKING, HOW CAN I HAVE PEACE WITH ALL THESE THINGS HANGING OVER MY HEAD? HOW CAN I BE CALM, I NEED A MIRACLE, I'M AT THE END OF MY ROPE, THE FUTURE SEEMS SO UNCERTAIN.

THIS IS THE TIME WHEN WE MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO SAY THINGS LIKE, GOD IS TRUE TO HIS WORD, I THANK HIM FOR ALL HIS PROMISES, AND I THANK HIM FOR HIS PROMISE THAT HE WILL COME AGAIN. I'VE HEARD ALL THESE BLESSED TRUTHS SO MANY TIMES AND I BELIEVE THEM. BUT RIGHT NOW IT ALL SEEMS LIKE EMPTY THEOLOGY. I DON'T NEED ANOTHER SERMON OR THEORY. I NEED A MIRACLE!!

IF I COULD JUST SEE SOME LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, IF I COULD JUST GET HEALED OR OUT OF DEBT, THEN I WOULD HAVE PEACE.

WHEN CHRIST PROMISED HIS DISCIPLES PEACE, IT WAS JUST AS THOUGH HE WAS SAYING, I KNOW THAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HARD TIMES. YOU DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND THE CROSS AND THE SUFFERING THAT I AM GOING TO GO THROUGH FOR YOU.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE TRIED BEYOND YOUR CAPACITY TO ENDURE. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ENDURE WHAT IS COMING WITHOUT MY ENDURING PEACE. I WANT TO BRING YOUR HEART TO A PLACE OF PEACE. YOU MUST HAVE MY PEACE, BECAUSE WITHOUT IT YOU CANNOT ENDURE.

YOUR SITUATIONS NOW WILL SEEM LIKE NOTHING WHEN THE SORROWS THAT ARE ABOUT TO COME UPON THE EARTH IN THESE LAST DAYS ACTUALLY ARRIVES.
MOUNTING GAS PRICES, UNAFFORDABLE HOUSING, CONTINUED TERRORISM EVERYWHERE, MEN DOING THINGS THAT WE CANNOT EVEN SPEAK OF, CHILDREN DISOBEYING AND KILLING OTHER CHILDREN, NO REGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE AS WE KNOW IT.

YOUR LIFE MAY LOOK LIKE IT'S BEEN HIT BY A TORNADO, PEOPLE MAY CALL YOU THE MODERN DAY JOB. BUT IN THE MIDST OF YOUR TROUBLES, WHEN YOU CALL ON THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE PEACE OF CHRIST, HE WILL DO IT. AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS------ PEOPLE WILL POINT TO YOU AND SAY THINGS LIKE HOW DO THEY DO IT? THEIR WORLD HAS COME COMPLETELY APART AND YET HE IS DETERMINED TO TRUST IN GOD'S WORD, LIVE OR DIE. NOTHING COMPROMISED. WHAT AMAZING PEACE!! IT'S BEYOND UNDERSTANDING.

(IF TIME PERMITS, TELL STORY ABOUT CATALINA'S PEACE DURING HER HEART SURGERY)

HOW DO I OBTAIN THIS WONDERFUL PEACE OF CHRIST? BEYOND ASKING THE HOLY SPIRIT?

MANY PEOPLE DON'T GET IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T CONSIDER THEMSELVES AS WORTHY. YOU ARE WORTHY BECAUSE JESUS MADE YOU WORTHY.

HOW ABOUT THE FIRST MEN THAT HE GAVE HIS PEACE TO, WERE THEY WORTHY? WELL PASTOR THEY WERE APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES WHO WALKED WITH HIM. OH YEAH!!
WHAT ABOUT PETER? HE WAS ABOUT TO CURSE AND SAY THAT HE NEVER KNEW HIM. THEN OF COURSE JAMES AND JOHN WHO HAD COMPETITIVE SPIRITS WERE SEEKING TO BE RECOGNIZED, THEY MIGHT HAVE EVEN GOTTEN THEIR MOTHER TO ASK FOR THEM. THE OTHER DISCIPLES WERE NO MORE RIGHTEOUS AND SIMMERED WITH ANGER WHEN JESUS WAS ASK TO RECOGNIZE THEM WITH HIGH POSITION. THOMAS WAS GIVEN TO DOUBT. AND THEY ALL RAN WHEN JESUS WENT THROUGH HIS GREATEST TRIAL. NONE OF THESE MEN WERE WORTHY, SO WHO ARE YOU TO SAY, 'I'M NOT WORTHY.'

THESE MEN WERE CONFUSED, THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE WAYS OF THE LORD. HIS PARABLES CONFUSED THEM. THEY LOST ANY SENSE OF UNITY THEY HAD, SCATTERING IN ALL DIRECTIONS.
WHAT A PICTURE: FEAR UNBELIEF, DISUNITY, SORROW, CONFUSION, COMPETITIVENESS, AND PRIDE. YET IT WAS TO THESE SAME TROUBLED SERVANTS, THAT JESUS SAID, 'I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU MY PEACE.'

IT WASN'T THEIR TALENTS OR ABILITIES. IT WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE CALLED AND CHOSEN IN CHRIST AND FOR NO OTHER REASON.
CHRIST CALLED AND CHOSE THEM BECAUSE HE SAW SOMETHING IN THEIR HEARTS. AS HE LOOKED INTO THEM, HE KNEW EACH ONE WOULD SUBMIT TO THE HOLY SPIRIT WHEN THE TIME CAME.

ALL THEY HAD WAS THE PROMISE OF CHRIST. PENTECOST HAD NOT YET COME.
NOW HOW ABOUT YOU AND I, ARE WE BEING SUBMISSIVE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT? NOT IF YOU HAVE PRIDE, ANGER, JEALOUSY, UNFORGIVENESS THAT HAS NOT BEEN DEALT WITH.

YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED, YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN. YOU RECEIVED A MEASURE OF THE SPIRIT WHEN YOU WERE CONVICTED AND WOOED AND WON BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. THIS SPIRIT'S WORK CONTINUES IN YOU TODAY, BUT MANY HAVE NOT THAT PEACE THAT CHRIST GAVE THEM.

WHEN WE DEAL WITH ANY AND ALL THE ISSUES IN OUR LIVES, IT'S THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT EVEN DOES THAT AND WHEN YOU HAVE CONFRONTED THESE ISSUES, ASK HIM FOR THE PEACE OF CHRIST.
John 16:14 (Amplified Bible) LETS LOOK AT JOHN 16:14.

14He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you.
WHAT WAS SAID WAS THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL REVEAL TO YOU ALL THAT IS CHRIST.

SIMPLY PUT, WE RECEIVE THE PEACE OF CHRIST FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT. THIS PEACE COMES TO US AS THE SPIRIT REVEALS THE CHRIST TO US. SO------ THE MORE YOU WANT JESUS, THE MORE THE SPIRIT WILL SHOW YOU OF HIM. AND THE MORE OF CHRIST'S ACTUAL PEACE YOU WILL HAVE. THIS IS HOW WE OBTAIN HIS PEACE.

DO YOU HAVE SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER BUBBLING UP IN YOU? IT STARTED TO BUBBLE WHEN YOU GOT SAVED. BUT IT STARTS TO BECOME A RIVER THE MORE YOU YEARN AFTER CHRIST. THEN COMES A CONSTANT FLOW OF CHRIST'S SPIRIT ? HIS FORGIVENESS, HIS CHARACTER, HIS HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE TO THE FATHER---- HIS PEACE BECOMES OURS.

SHOW ME A MAN OR WOMAN OF GOD WHOSE MAIN PASSION IS TO BECOME MORE LIKE CHRIST? WHOSE HEART IS SET ON TRUSTING THE SPIRIT TO REMOVE ALL STUMBLING BLOCKS? AND I'LL SHOW YOU SOMEONE WHO SATAN CANNOT DEFEAT. THE PEACE OF CHRIST FLOWS TO ALL WHO ARE DETERMINED TO TRUST THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SHAPE THEM INTO JESUS? LIKENESS.

WE WILL CLOSE WITH ROMANS 16:20 -
Romans 16:20 (Amplified Bible)

20And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ (the Messiah) be with you.

THIS VERSE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT CHRIST BRUISING THE HEAD OF SATAN IN THE GARDEN. THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE. NO, PAUL IS SPEAKING OF SATAN BEING CRUSHED, BEATEN DOWN UNDER THE FOOT OF CHRIST IN YOU. WHO DOES THIS? THE GOD OF PEACE.

Acts 9:31 (Amplified Bible)

31So the church throughout the whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was edified [growing in wisdom, virtue, and piety] and walking in the respect and reverential fear of the Lord and in the consolation and exhortation of the Holy Spirit, continued to increase and was multiplied.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT WHEN PEACE IS PRESENT THE CHURCH WILL GROW. THAT IS WHY WE NEED EACH PERSON HERE TODAY TO EXPERIENCE THE REAL PEACE OF GOD. NOT TO STRUGGLE WITH IT, BUT TO RECEIVE THE FULLNESS OF THAT PEACE. IT'S NEEDED FOR US TO GROW AS A CHURCH.