East Baptist Church – Denison, TX

In the Upper Room Our Lord Offers Peace

John 14:27

We have looked at this verse before just a few weeks ago on Easter, and we looked at the power of the Holy Spirit the following week. Again, today we will talk about that same Peace that only comes through accepting Christ. But we will go a step further and see how to keep that peace in a world that is constantly challenging us to seek peace by its standards and the only way to keep that peace as we are forced to live in the world until the Lord comes back or calls us Home.

Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

The Holy Spirit is our teacher and helps us to remember what Christ has said. He gives strength, sight, and direction to guide us on our life path, conforming our will to the image of Christ. He is the truth of real wisdom. 

I think it would be of great benefit for us to look at a chart that Dr. Matton made to help us visualize the comparison between the Peace of Christ and the peace the world offers.

The World’s Peace
1) Peace comes by escaping problems or avoiding trouble.
2) Peace is dependent upon resources such as money.
3) It is dependent upon our ability, treaties, and schemes.
4) This peace I shallow, shaky, short, selfish, without satisfaction and stability
5) it is deceptive and fake. They cry, “Peace, peace” when there is none.
6) it offers no peace about the future and death.
7) It’s based on circumstances and it can be taken away.
God’s Peace
1) Jesus offers the peace of conquest of problems.
2) It is dependent upon our relationship with Jesus Christ
3) It is dependent upon the adequacy and strength of Christ.
4) This peace passes understanding, and is deep stable in storms, strong, selfless, and satisfying.
5) It is genuine and real.
6) It offers peace with God. (Romans 5:1; Hebrews 2:14-15).
7) It’s independent of circumstances; it comes from within & can’t be lost.

Thank God we have been delivered from the clutches of Satan and we as Christians are now in Christ and that makes our Heavenly Father God. We have gone from one destiny to another.

John 8:44 (NASB77) ⁴⁴“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.”

John 1:12 (NASB77) ¹²But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,” 

Many of us are like prisoners that have been delivered from prison, and the enemy has been defeated. That’s a gift that we could never buy. But Christ purchased it on the cross we have to “just let go and let God”, rest in the peace offered every moment of every day. Freedom is the gift of accepting and living Him, so you can find the joy of and in the gift. You don’t have to win it just live in Him. THAT IS FREEDOM!

Once again, we turn to Paul with how to live this peace out in real life.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB77) ⁶Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Let us look at a very peaceful truth that we often overlook: Our Anxieties Can Be Delegated. Nothing is so calming and restful as to be able to delegate problems to someone who can solve them. 

Now I want to ask you the same question. Take a moment to think about it. What would you do if you were going to die in the next two weeks?

When we know Christ as God, we can trust Him, and Him Alone to decide if we live or die according to His will. Once again, many times the hard thing is to live life for the glory of God when our world seems dark and lonely. Alone is a hard place to be, but remember as the Lord gives His peace, we are never alone when we are in Christ.