Welcome!
Date: Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Today: God’s Peace!
Passage: Mt 5: 8,9NIV
9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
We live in a world that believes, “blessed are the money makers”
So, most people dream about making as much money as possible
While money has got its own good and bad,
Most people, who have enough and more money, are not happy!
Many of them look at other people who barely have enough and get jealous about anything and everything those people have!
Making peace is not always easy
First you should have peace within yourself
Sin and worries about life can rob peace away from us
Satan wants to break the peace, at any cost
God likes his children to be peace lovers, peace makers, and peace keepers
That does not mean compromise with sin or closing our eyes towards sin and injustice
Sometimes peace makers take the hard steps
Years back, the Indian Peace keeping Force was sent to Ceylon
The name “peace keeping force” sounded like they were all without any weapons or someone like that
But these peace keepers were all soldiers, fully armed
So peace keeping does not mean ignore wrong things and wear a “smiling face” all the time. Peace comes through discipline in a place where there is no discipline.
Jesus gave up his own life, in order to make and keep peace with you and me
In Ephesians 6, we read about the full armor of God, which includes the gospel of peace
Peace and the gospel are so connected
Gospel has brought peace between the individual and God (Rom 5:1)
Gospel brought peace in many parts of the world
The birth of Jesus was announced as a message of peace
He is our peace-the peace that passeth all understanding
Peace rules the day, when God rules the heart
When we allow other things and worries to rule our heart, we loose our peace (Phil 4: 4-6)
Jesus said, “Peace I give unto you, not as the world gives it” (John 14:27)
The peace of God surpasses anything that the world can put on us
It is priceless! Nothing can match the value of God’s peace
Joseph had this peace, while in prison
David had this peace, even as he was being chased like a dog, by Saul
Paul had this peace, as he was in prison
Jesus had this peace, all the time
This peace can come to us through the word of God, and stay there through prayer
God’s peace!
BG
Pray to God about anything that “concerns” us; then live a stress-free life
Tomorrow is in God’s hands. He is faithful
If we put our trust in God, he will not make us ashamed
Prayer: Lord, change me and make me the kind of person you want me to be. Speak to me through your word. Fill my heart with peace. Make me a maker and keeper of peace. Amen.
Special prayer request: Pastor Jose Anikattu: Check the site below:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/joseannicattu