Experiencing the Peace of Jesus
I. Jesus Under Pressure
a. Modeled by the Master
i. Life of Christ was hectic, yet he was always able to have a peaceful heart.
ii. Jesus is able to understand our weaknesses.
iii. Hebrews 4:15 – “he was tempted in every way as we are, but did not sin”
iv. John 14:27 – “I leave you my peace; my peace I give you”
v. Hebrews 2:17-18 – “because he suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those being tempted”
b. Unexpected News
i. Matthew 14:1-12 – Jesus received unexpected and troubling news.
ii. Mark 6:30-31 – No chance to rest or mourn.
iii. Hebrews 13:8 – We can count on Jesus’ consistency. His emotions varied, his demeanor did not.
c. Unexpected Demands
i. Matthew 14:13 – Many demands placed on Jesus, 5000 men plus women and children (vs.21)
ii. Philippians 4:6-7 – Do not be anxious. God’s peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
iii. Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you”
iv. God gives peace to those who trust him.
d. A Quiet Place
i. Mark 6:31 – “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest”
ii. 1 Corinthians 14:33 – “ God is not a God of disorder, but of peace”
iii. Matthew 11:28-30 – “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”
iv. Jesus can help us through our temptations and sufferings.
II. Hearing Jesus’ Voice
a. Fending Off the Voices
i. John 10:3 – “And the sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd”
ii. Voices of the crowd are persuasive and clamor for attention
1. Proverbs 5:3 – “appear temptingly sweet”
2. Proverbs 7:21 – “they use clever and pleasing tactics”
3. Proverbs 12:26 – “wicked friends lead the righteous astray”
4. Proverbs 16:29 – “they are deceptive and lead others into disaster”
5. Proverbs 28:10 – “they lead people astray, but fall into their own trap”
b. False Promises of Peace
i. 1 Cor 14:33 – “God is not a God of confusion but a God of peace”
ii. John 6:14-15 – Jesus also heard the voices of false promises, but also heard God’s voice.
iii. 1 John 4:4-6 – “they are from the world and the world listens to them, but we belong to God”
c. Jesus’ Voice
i. John 10:13 – “the sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd”
ii. Rev 3:20 – “if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him”
d. Jesus’ Peace In our Decisions
i. Isaiah 30:21 – “you will hear a voice behind you saying, this is the way, walk in it”
e. Jesus’ Decision
i. Matthew 14:22-23 “Jesus dismissed the crowd” – he said no to the important in order to say yes to the vital
ii. Luke 5:16 – “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed”
iii. Sometimes peace comes from saying no to good things in order to choose what is better.
III. Doubtstorms
a. Window of the Heart
i. There is a window in your heart through which you can see God. But sometimes it is hard to see God through our pain.
ii. Philippians 4:7 – “God gives the peace that transcends all understanding”
iii. The bible describes suffering
1. Job 6:10
2. Jeremiah 4:10
3. Jonah 4:1,3
4. Paul – 2 Corinthians 1:8
5. Jesus – Isaiah 53:3
iv. Pain disturbs our peace more easily than anything else.
v. God’s reaction to heartbreak
1. Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in Spirit”
2. Psalm 147:3 – “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds”
3. Isaiah 61:1 – God sent Jesus to bind the brokenhearted.
b. Where is Jesus?
i. Matthew 14:22-27 – Jesus tells the disciples to get in the boat and go while he goes off to pray. Then the storm hits. The disciples were left to face the storm..alone.
ii. How do painful trials and suffering make you feel? Perhaps feeling alone or abandoned?
iii. Isaiah 49:14-15 – God answers the question. God says, “I will not forget you”.
c. Doubtstorms
i. “If God is good, why do I feel so bad?” “If God is in control, why is their pain and suffering?” “Why do I have such difficult problems?” Tough questions.
ii. Doubtstorms are when there are turbulent days, when the enemy is too big, the task too great, the future too bleak, and the answers too few.
d. Peace In Jesus’ Presence
i. Matthew 14:25 – “Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake”
ii. Matthew 14:26 – They thought Jesus was a ghost and were terrified. He came to them in a way they did not expect and they almost missed seeing the answer to their prayers.
iii. When we can’t see him, we must trust him. Jesus is closer than you’ve ever dreamed.
IV. Fear That Becomes Faith
a. Faith – The Child of Fear
i. Out of the fear that Peter experienced from the storm was born an act of faith.
ii. Proverbs 9:10 – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”
iii. Experiencing Jesus’ peace comes at a great price to our idea of security – what we can control. We have to let go of what we know and step out in faith.
iv. Study these individuals as they let go of their own security in order to experience what only God could provide. Ultimate victory. Lasting peace. Exodus 14:15-16, 1 Samuel 17:37, 2 Kings 5:13-14, 2 Corinthians 4:8-18.
b. The Peace of God
i. Lasting peace comes only from God.
ii. Isaiah 55:2 – “your soul will delight in the richest fare”
iii. Stay close to God in order to experience his peace and comfort. Psalm 23:4, Jeremiah 31:13, Hebrews 7:19, James 4:8
c. Experiencing Peace With God
i. Romans 5:1-2 - Cannot have the peace of God, until you’ve experienced peace with God.
ii. Faith comes first. And just as Peter stepped out of the boat, so must we.
d. His Calming Presence
i. Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith”
ii. God’s gift of salvation gives us peace.
iii. Exodus 33:14 – “My presence will go with you and I will give you rest”
e. Reaching for Jesus
i. We are great sinners and we need a great Savior.
ii. Psalm 62:5-8 – “Trust God all the time…for He is our protection”
iii. Matthew 14:30-31 – “(Peter) beginning to sink cried out ‘Lord save me!’. Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.”
V. The Journey’s End
a. Tired Travelers
i. Psalm 18:32 – “It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect”
ii. Psalm 25:5 – “guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are my God and my Savior”
iii. Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path”
iv. Luke 1:79 – “to guide our feet into the path of peace”
b. When “no” Disturbs our Peace
i. Sometimes God has to say no to our requests.
ii. 2 Corinthians 12:7 -9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”
iii. How do you react when the answer from God is no? Do you trust that he knows best?
c. When Waiting Disturbs our Peace
i. He who lives forever – Isaiah 57:15, has placed himself at the head of a band of pilgrims who cry “How long? How long? - Psalm 74:10, Psalm 89:46
ii. Isaiah 30:18 – “For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait on him!”
iii. Psalm 27:14 – “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
iv. Lamentations 3:26 – “it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord”
d. When we Lose Sight of the Reward
i. It’s not easy to fix our eyes on what is unseen. But it’s necessary
ii. How does Jesus give you peace on your long journey?
iii. Romans 14:19 – “So let us try to do what makes peace and helps one another”
iv. James 3:18 – “Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness”
v. Psalm 34:14 – “Stop doing evil and do good. Look for peace and work for it.”
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