I will send another advocate, comforter - the Holy Spirit: John 14; Eph 1; 5

My heart is troubled - grieving and sorrowful – I have come to save the world. (Jn 3:16-18) Do not let your hearts be troubled - fearful and dreading – I have come to save the world…

…and though I am going away, I am not leaving you alone, as orphans, but in fact, I will be with you in an even more profound way.

• 1John 4:16-18 - Perfect love drives out fear - because fear - dread - has to do with punishment, payment for sin, when it is Jesus who has finished this work and when you received Jesus, you received that finished work - his payment, for our sin 

John 14:9-13 - I am who I said I am, the Father and I are One (John 8)

I must go so that I can send ANOTHER advocate, comforter, counselor (Isaiah), to be with you forever - the Spirit of Truth.

• Jesus has been and is (one) Advocate

• There is another to come to us all with like nature and intentions 

• Indwelling Holy Spirit

Paraklete - advocate, advisor, helper, aider, assistant, a legal rep who pleads our case - an intercessor (Rom 8) - from close beside, a legal advocate who makes right judgment-call because they are close enough to the situation - giving evidence that stands up in court

• so of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after his ascension to the Father), to lead them to a deeper knowledge of gospel truth, and to give them the divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom: Jn 14:16, 26;15:26;16:7; Mt 10:19; Mk 13:11; Lu 12:11

John 14:15-21 

• As Jesus was and is and will be “Immanuel, God, with us” (Isa; Matt; Luke)

• To those who hear His commands and does then, He will show Himself to the - Jesus will reveal Himself and the Father to the one who loves them - John 3:3,14 3 “I assure you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God… 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness (Nu 21:4-9), so the Son of Man must be lifted up (to be seen, looked upon), so that everyone who (sees, has have revealed, and) believes in Him will be saved to eternal life.”

John 14:22-27

• So the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth is “God, in us”

• As one sees and receives, loving and obeying - BECAUSE of that love - 

• Jesus, and the Father, We, will make our home with them

• And this peace given is the peace established between God and us

  • Established by God (Luke 2 “peace on earth, and tidings on whom that peace rests”)

  • Kept by God

  • As it is Jesus who gives us this peace - and He does not give as the world gives - but gives as only God can give

    • Forgiveness of sin

    • Saved from condemnation and death

    • Given life eternal 

    • Sealed by the Holy Spirit - a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance, treasures (Mt 6:20), kept in heaven for us (1Peter 1:3)

      • 1Cor 

      • Eph 1 

Do I love God?  Do I love Jesus?  Even a little?  Then it is God in us that enables, that has transformed the heart, that now comforts our hearts by His Spirit and word

• If we love Him, we will love His word

• If we love Him, we will obey His word

presence exchanged with the Holy Spirit’s indwelling – as He and the Father take upI

This Spirit IS God’s indwelling, the Father and the Son’s making Their home - residence - in us, and enables us to live according to the righteousness of Jesus, that He has now made us to be 

• John 3:3-8 born again - not of human will, but by the will of God John 1:12-13

• 2Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15 “new creatures… created in Christ Jesus…” Ephesians 2:10

• 1Peter 1:2 Sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus… to do the good works prepared in advance Ephesians 2:10

•  2Cor 1:22; 5:5; Eph 1:13; 4:30 we are Sealed by the Holy Spirit - a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance, treasures (Mt 6:20), kept in heaven for us (1Peter 1:3-4)

• Phil 1:6; 2:13 Confident in this - that it is God who works in us to desire His will and purposes…

• To express the faith given us (2Peter 1:1) in love (Gal 5:6; 1Thes 1:3)

• Ephesians 5:15-20 As we make the most of every opportunity - by that indwelling Spirit

Acts 1;2;7;10;11 the transforming power of the Love of the Father, the Gospel of Jesus, and the life of the Holy Spirit in and through us 

• Tongues? Sure.  Miracles? Yes.  Do demons flee?  Good. 

• Changed minds, hearts, lives - yes, there is evidence of

  • The Gospel - Rom

  • The Spirit’s power

  • Our names now written in the Book of Life

Do Not Let Your Hearts be Troubled: John 12; 13; 14

Do not let your hearts be troubled…

Jesus’ troubled heart… the man 

John 12:20-27 “now my soul is troubled…, and what shall I say ‘Father, save me from this hour?’”

John 13:21 Jesus was troubled in spirit, Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me 

John 13:25-27 “leaning back against Jesus, he asked Him, “Lord, who is it?”  Jesus answered, “the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped in the dish.”  then, dipping the piece of beard, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.  As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

So Jesus told him, “what you are about to do, do quickly”

John 13:37b “...I will lay down my life for you.  Will you really lay down your life for me?  Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

Troubled - to affect with great pain or sorrow 

• Disturbed, agitated, stirred up

• Put in motion back-and-forth, shake to and fro

• To set in motion what needs to remain still - at ease

• To trouble-causing inner perplexity 

• Getting too stirred up inside - upset

John 14:1  do not let your hearts be troubled… 

Troubled - to strike one’s spirit with fear and dread

An under-read text -usually relegated to funerals, and read there, for good reason

Jesus is not saying to His disciples that being troubled is a sin, He is recognizing that it is a condition of the human heart - it is a matter of longing, aching, fearful anticipation, anxiety, confusion, trepidation - that is why He addresses it, it is why He gives them a remedy, it is why He encourages them.

Troubled hearts - hearts that see what is coming, are startled by their surroundings, sorrowful and fearful of what is happening, and maybe even more so, what’s to come

Jesus, first, addresses the truth of the moment - He is not unaware, but in fact, knows and sympathizes - a merciful and faithful high priest - Hebrews 2:1-8

He knows our hearts – He is not calling us weak or sinful for being troubled, He knows we are weak and meets us in the moment of trouble with an affirming call to faith and courage – but where there is no trouble, there is no need for faith or courage. (Luke 12:32-34)

John 14:1a “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

Jesus, next, gives a remedy of sorts, a truth, a reminder, a vision, something to look forward to - and that with great promise - BELIVE

Anchored in the truth: John 14:1b-2a “You believe in God - assumed - believe also in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms…”

Jesus gives a vision, a promise, expressed from that truth: John 14:2-4 “...if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going”

Jesus, then, shows the way: John 14:5-7 “Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where we are going, so how can we know the way’”  Jesus answered “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  7if you really know me, you will know my Father as well.  From now on, you do know Him and have seen HIm. 

Jesus, then, would encourage them: but that encouragement does not end with Him - His apostles, swept up by His Spirit, to remind us all of the future things - good things, things of His promises, but also, how we ought to live in the midst of such troubles.  Picking up, where Jesus left off… 

• Romans 13:9b-14 “...and whatever other command there may be are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  10Love does no harm to a neighbor.  Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, understanding the present time:  the hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, (Mk 13:33; Lu 21:36; 1Co 16:13; 1Pe 5:8 ) because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.  12The night is nearly over’ the day is almost here.  So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light (Eph 6:10-17).  13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness (Lu 21:34; 1Cor 3:3; 15:32) not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy (Gal 5:20).  14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ (Col 12-13), and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh (Rom 8:1-16; 2Tim 2:22; Gal 5:16-18; 6:7-8)

• 1Peter 4:7-12  “The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins (Prov 10:12; 17:9; James 5:20). 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (Rom 12; 1Cor 12-14) 12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come you to test you, as though something strange is happening to you.  13But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ.” (Matt 5:10-12; Rom 5:3; Phil 1:29; 3:7-16; Ja 1:2; 1Pet 1:7-9; 4:14)

• Ephesians 5:15-16,19 15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil… 19Sing and make music in your heart… always giving thanks to God…”

• Colossians 4:2-6 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3And for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  4Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.  5Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  6Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

• James 5:8 “You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.

The mission: Jesus’ simple instruction is that we are to love one another John 13:12-16, 31-35 

“When He had finished washing their feet, He put on His clothes and returned to His place.  “Do you understand what I have done for you?  He asked them.  13You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’, and rightly so, for that is what I am.  14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.  15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.  16Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger great that the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

When Judas was gone.  34”A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

36 “Peter asked Him, “Lord, where are you going?”  Jesus replied, “where I am going, you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later,”

14:3,6  “Jesus said, “...I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am… You know the way to the place where I am going… I am the way.”

The Peace of Going God’s Way: (John 17; Rom 12; 1Cor 12)

The peace of going God’s way… As much as we live by grace, and in so, have life in Christ, we still live – day-to-day - in utter dependence upon His gift of life, that is, by His grace, and not only dependence upon God and His grace, but also the grace of a splendid interdependence with God the Holy Spirit (Jo 14;16; Rom 8; Ga 5) and one another (Jo 17; Ro 12; 1Co 12).  It was and is and will never be good for man to be alone!  He was never meant to be.

The peril of going our way… Therefore, for us to go our own way, that is, without His grace’s guidance (by His word and Spirit and the encouragement of one another) is to sin (Gal 5;6). Remember, to sin is to go our own way, according to our own ideas and plans, pride and self-sufficiency, whims and desires, and to do so makes my relationship with God and others ineffective and unproductive.

Jesus' peace is by grace and we realize that peace by remaining in, waiting on, Him - that is His commands, His words, would remain in us, as his Spirit does and we would go His way according to those commands - words and Spirit (Jo 14).

Grace and peace to you!! 1Cor 1:1-4; Rom 1:7; Eph 1:2

2To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:  3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Thanksgiving  4I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5For in him you have been enriched in every way

Grace and peace are deeply intertwined and in the heart and life of the believer, inseparable in their effect

• Grace: the Lord’s favor - freely extended to give Himself away to them - “Here I am!” He is always leaning toward us!  Reaching to people because He is disposed to bless them with/by His nearness - His goodwill, loving-kindness, and favor - you are accepted! (Room 5; Heb 10)

• Peace: Peace with God in and from Jesus - the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with their current assignment or lot - whatever that might be (Ph 4:11-13)

Paul demonstrates this type of peace in his letter to the Philippians…

11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

• Content:  satisfied - grace’s inward sufficiency is as valid in “low times” as it is in “high times” (temporal prosperity) - in other words, it is not conditional - God’s eternal grace and peace are the same regardless!

Remember our peace with God is from Jesus, not us

“My peace I give to you…” John 14:1-3, 23-27 

…to remove what was between us (enmity) and establish peace between us and God. 

• The state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone.

• Animosity, friction, feud, conflict, discord (the opposite of harmony)

  …to replace that enmity with friendship between us and God.

• a conception distinctly peculiar to Christianity, "the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is"

And Jesus doesn’t give like the world gives: Jesus: “...I do not give as the world gives” 

There is an objective truth - with faith in Christ, we HAVE peace with God.  That peace in Jesus is objectively permanent with regard to eternal life with God by Jesus having made peace between us. 

Luke 15:11-24 The objective nature of God’s peace, the subjective nature of our peace 

There is a subjective feeling - despite the objective truth that we are at peace with God, we don’t always “feel” at peace with God.  What is so important is that we understand that how we feel does not make our permanent peace with God null and void, neither does it mean I an no longer at peace with God, but this feeling or sense of peacelessness can cause us to doubt and make our relationship with God and others ineffective.

To counter these feelings we must trust in that real and actual peace that we HAVE and seek to restore the feelings of peace that are sometimes a warning to us that our relationships with God and others may be injured

Our sense of peace is very often “subject” to feelings that seem to be opposite to our actual peace with God - that He made AND keeps - so that subjectively, our feelings of peace with God, can be fickle.  But, why?  There can be lots of reasons for this - here are a few:

• Sin - to go our own way, by our own means, to fulfill our desires, as if… 1Cor 4:7; sin injures our relationship with God and others - James 4:1-(6)-15; Ps 51; 2Sam 11;12 

• Pride - causes God to oppose us - Ps 138:6; Pr 3:33; 1Peter 5:5-6 - going our own way, creating our solutions

• Inconsistency or complacency - weakens the confidence and assurance of our faith - 1Cor 3; Phil 3:7-16; Hebrews 6; 2Peter 1

• Broken earthly relationships - unforgiveness breeds discord and anxiety - Matthew 5; 18; Phil 4; James 4

• Not discerning well our times - having to LET perseverance to its work - patiently working the process of rejoicing in tests, trials, and tribulations - or - afflictions - Romans 5; James 1: 1Peter 1; Heb 12; Ps 34

  • Growing in wisdom and stature

  • Being conformed into the likeness of Jesus 

Here’s the truth:

Romans 5:1-4 ...since we have been justified through faith, we have PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.  And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.  not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope…

And He, God, the Father and the Son, seals His peace with a promise - Himself, God, the Holy Spirit

• John 14:15-16 if you love me, keep my commands.  And i will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate - and be with you FOREVER - the Spirit of Truth

• Romans 5:5 …this hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.  

That is God, not just with us - Jesus, but now, in us - the Holy Spirit 

• If Jesus is the peace offering that makes and gives peace, then… 

• The Holy Spirit is the seal of the promise of continued - that peace has been given, received, and thus made

• And, bonus, a fruit of the Spirit is - peace! Galatians 5:22-23

So let us remember: When we are at peace we can live in peace and even come to make peace - as long as it is up to us.  This journey is too hard for you - therefore, what is impossible with man, is possible with God!  So, let’s stick to His side, as He sticks to ours!

“My peace I give to you…” John 14:26-27

“My peace I give to you…” John 14:26-27 Jesus came to make peace between us and God - in the most practical sense, Jesus is redeeming the Jewish idiom of greeting and parting “shalom” or the wishing of God’s peace, or peace with God - dismissing one with good wishes:

“Go in peace, may happiness attend you”

Not merely wishing peace, but giving peace…. Jesus is here is making peace. Up to now, there was the wishing of peace, but now Jesus has come to make peace and therefore give peace - as only the Son can, not as the world does (peace on “my” terms)…

…to remove what was between us (enmity) and establish peace between us. 

• The state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone.

• Animosity, friction, feud, conflict, discord (the opposite of harmony)

…to replace that enmity with friendship.

• a conception distinctly peculiar to Christianity, "the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is"

Jesus: “...I do not give as the world gives” 

There is an objective truth - with faith in Christ, we HAVE peace with God.  That peace in Jesus is objectively permanent with regard to eternal life with God by Jesus having made peace between us. 

There is a subjective reality - despite that objective truth of our peace with God, we don’t always realize or experience what that truth provides - felicity, tranquility, a feeling of peace…  our inability to “feel” peace does not make our permanent peace with God by faith in Jesus null and void, neither does it mean that I am not still at peace with God objectively, but this feeling or sense of peace-lessness, or the reason we cannot experience or realize that peace in realtime, can make our relationship with God and others ineffective.  To counter these feelings we must trust in that real and actual peace that we HAVE and seek to restore the feelings of peace that are sometimes a warning to us that our relationships with God and others may be injured 

• ·  Our sense of peace is very often “subject” to feelings that seem to contradict our (actual and real) peace with God - so that subjectively, our feelings of peace with God, can be fickle.  But, why? 

  • Sin - injures our relationship with God and others - Ps 51

  • Pride - causes God to oppose us - Ps 138:6; Pr 3:33; James 4:6; 1Peter 5:5-6 

  • Inconsistency or complacency - weakens the confidence and assurance of our faith - 1Cor 3; Hebrews 6; 2Peter 1

  • Broken earthly relationships - unforgiveness breeds discord and anxiety - Matthew 5; 18

  • Not discerning well our times - having to LET perseverance to its work - patiently working the process of rejoicing in tests, trials, and tribulations - or - afflictions - Ps 34

    • Growing in wisdom and stature

And he seals His peace with a promise - the Holy Spirit - John 14; Romans 5.  That is God, not just with us, but now, in us

• If Jesus is the peace offering that makes and gives peace, then… 

• The Holy Spirit is the seal of the promise of continued - that peace has been given, received, and thus made

• And, bonus, a fruit of the Spirit is - peace! Galatians 5:22-23

 So let us remember: When we are at peace we can live in peace and even come to make peace - as long as it is up to us.  This journey is too hard for you - therefore, what is impossible with man, is possible with God!  So, let’s stick to His side, as He sticks to ours!

Sticking to God’s side?  Nothing new – cultivating our relationship with Him and one another!

So, since we have peace with God, let us cultivate and realize that peace - Romans 5:1; Col 1:20

• Word, prayer, worship, fellowship, and service (keeps our spiritual fervor) - keeps afresh our assurance of our peace with God - 2Peter 1:1-11

Matthew 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. NIV

God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. NLT

To be like Jesus, to be called children of God, to be seen as such, we need to be peacemakers, so that as long as it is up to us, we are to live at peace with all people

To do that we must receive, have, cultivate, and experience - live in - God’s peace.  To “let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…”

James 3:18 “peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness…” 

• peace between individuals, harmony, concord - an aut hor of peace

• Where harmony prevails, in a peaceful mind, peace, a course of like promoting harmony - in/with a mild and friendly spirit, to promote concord, to effect it - with one’s “natural” tendency born from a heart cultivated with and for peace.

  • We bring because we are

  • We make because we do

  • We desire because we have - we want you, us, we to have it also

In general, this should be the essence of your being - attitude, speech, and actions toward others Romans 12:9-16; Col 3:12-17; James 3:13-18

Examine your own heart - in making peace, one must have peace and be willing to do what needs to be done to be able to make peace, or bring peace, to others: “if you there remember that someone has something against you…”  Col 3:1-11; James 4:1-6 - have I done something? 

Now, look at others, and respond properly to others’ pain or sin inflicted upon you –

Romans 12:9-21 “as long as it is up to you…

Caveat - do not expose yourself to unsafe or abusive people or situations

• Jesus did not provoke those who wanted to harm Him, neither did He needlessly or carelessly expose Himself to them - as much as He was wise and had faith in His Father, Jesus learned from His earthly father discernment and discretion - John 7:1; 10:39; 11:53-54; following in the earthly father’s footsteps - Matt 2:13-23

• Fleeing - Proverbs 7; 2Tim 2:22 - strategically work around places of peril, don’t even go there!

Be careful the company you keep… 

• Psalms 1 and Proverbs 9:8; 17:12; Matt 7:6 exhort us to stay away from, to not entertain people who would bring us harm - 1Cor 15:33 - bad company corrupts good morals

But we can pray and want God’s best for them - the same miracle of life God performed in you

• Matthew 5 43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor i and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Providing for Family: Peace: 2Tim 5:8; Rom 12; Col 3; Mat 5

The first sphere of influence: Family.  To not care for one’s own family, denies the faith and is an act which renders one “worse than an infidel or unbeliever”  

1Tim 5:8 But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.

Let’s put this verse in proper context. This is not merely a singular command. Normally, when we look at the Scriptures, and something is mentioned once, we might see it is something that is certainly important but lacks importance in comparison to those things mentioned multiple times. But in this context, we need to remember what is happening here that Paul is teaching Timothy how to pastor his people, to lead and instruct the church. 

This is an instruction to a pastor for body believers for the purpose of teaching them, the church, how to act, and that God was not surprised that we would use this letter, to train other pastors, who are affecting other churches and ministries. Therefore, though this command only is mentioned once in the scripture, the context, the recipient, the purpose of its writing, and the number of people that this would be influencing raise the level of importance in regard to how we perceive it. How we treat it, How we consider its value, and what we do with it.

“Denies the faith” - appears inauthentic - actions contradict one’s confession of faith or being a “Christian” - one’s words and actions fail to identify with that profession - in this case, their actions toward their family contradict one’s professed faith and cannot be identified as Christian, or Jesus’, moral and ethic, by one who sees or experiences that person’s attitude, words, or behavior. 

The one who does not provide for his family - is worse than an unbeliever?? Provide for, Peace: making peace, being at peace, even if the one with whom you are working wants no peace

Perhaps one who does not take care of their immediate family is one who refuses to make peace, to make whole - as long as it is up to them - and in doing so is denying the faith, (their thinking, believing, speaking, and acting - including providing that which is most basic, most important, are) contradicting their stated faith, or, their faith and its work in and through them - as Jesus sake “blessed are the peacemakers - they will be called children of God”

As even one who provides a feast, if it is in a house of contention, or home that has no peace, it is better to eat crumbs on a roof…

Proverbs 17:1 Better is a dry morsel [of food served] with quietness and peace Than a house full of feasting (or more appropriately sacrifices as “peace offerings” [served] with strife and contention. AMP (Pr 15:17)

Matthew 5:23-24 Jesus repeated this refrain when he said “when you go to worship, and there you remember someone has something against you, leave the gift and go to your best to be reconciled, and then offer your gift.“

Imitators of God - as dearly loved children… (Eph 5:1-2) - the sincerest form of flattery

As Jesus came to make peace to whoever would receive it, and leave - or - give those who won't up to their own heart’s desire, or lordship, we, when we act to bring peace act as Jesus - who loved even His enemy. 

Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

What is it then to be a peacemaker?  One who, having themselves experienced God’s peace now longs to bring that peace to others - peace with God, peace in and with self, and peace with one another.  As God makes peace with and through us that peace lives at peace with us, so we are to do the same.  If we are truly imitators of God, as dearly loved children - of God. 

So here’s the truth of providing for one’s own…

Proverbs 15:15 All the days of the oppressed are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

So, here we go: as long as it is up to you, be at peace with all people, especially those of your own household.  

Romans 12:9-21   Making peace, as long as it’s up to me… and in the heart of another, it may not be up to you, but in your own heart - make peace, from peace: what’s in the heart flows from the mouth (Matt 12:34’ Luke 6:45)

I’ve made peace, but what about them??  Our degree of confusion or disappointment in a certain circumstance will be relative or commensurate to the degree of expectation and exaggerated even more if our expectation is based on the certainty of the result.  And we must understand that our peace, being at peace, does not depend on “them” - it is a choice to be at peace as we have peace (Gal 5:22) and it is  to choose to harbor peace and allow that peace to rule our hearts.

There is no promise of “peace” realized through the removal of the thing or person that is not peaceable  - not even in Phil 4 (as a “peace” from having been removed from a perilous circumstance)

• We assume certain types of “peace”

• We assume a certain resolution

• We assume the other will respond in kind and until they do there is not actually peace, or have done something wrong, or God’s not in this (yet??)

Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful.

Let: do not inhibit or forbid

• How do we inhibit or even prohibit?

  • Hold tight or nurse or indulge or ruminate - to excessively repeat thoughts or think about a problem (to obsess over) 

  • Assume purposeful offense or easily offended as one who feels as though everything is meant to annoy - as others are committed to your being miserable

  • Exacerbate the situation by perpetuating

  • Not able to see trials and tests as opportunities worthy of rejoicing through perseverance - CHEERFUL ENDURANCE (not just surviving) one complains, grumbles, and argues - thus inhibiting peace even in the most difficult of circumstances.

    • James 1 -  joy, trials, perseverance, wisdom to see 

    • Philippians 2; 4

Let: allow

• To allow, to give permission or by not doing anything to stop it from happening 

  • How do we “allow”?

• To grant occupancy - “set Jesus apart as Lord in your heart” (1Peter 3) - see “rule”

  • Let it in

  • Let it remain

  • Promote it 

Peace: Tie together in or to a whole - let the peace of Christ rule your hearts - this is the first step

• Tied to Him, God in Christ - our Maker, Creator, and to Whom we are being created and conformed

  • Knowledge (and) truth

• security, safety, prosperity, felicity - because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous "the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is"

Why the “peace of Christ” ruling in me, ruling me, first?

Because - 1st it is the “peace of Christ” - that which is of Him to us and in us and for us - that gives us peace at all - as, before Jesus, we knew not peace, but only the occasional “relief”.

Rule or control one’s heart

• To direct, control, rule - to govern

• Act as an umpire or referee - making the call in a conflict between contending forces - who are those forces?  (Romans 7; 8; Gal 5) Arbitrate

  • My flesh and the Spirit

  • My flesh and your spirit

  • My flesh and your flesh

  • My spirit and your flesh

  • My spirit and your spirit

  • The Spirit

How do I promote or keep peace - regardless of their response?  Well, after finding your own peace - reminding yourself of God’s peace to us, with us, in us, we now let the Peace of Christ work inus, through us…

• Remember the peace you have in Christ - letting Him rule

• Not inhibiting God’s peace in to rule in my heart - by dwelling on the things or person with who we are not at peace, by allowing them or my feelings to rule instead

We must grant the peace of Christ - occupancy:  who or what are you giving quarter, harboring

• Set Christ, and His peace, apart as Lord, or ruler/governor of your heart (1Peter 3)

  • Not your feelings

  • Not one’s offenses

  • Not one’s rights and liberties 

  • Not someone else or the feelings we believe they have provoked

• Now let, allow, give permission to, submit to, make subject to - peace and peace’s effect - the thing you would let Lord you

How do we do this?

Colossians 3:12-15  

• Be thankful - grateful and appreciative

  • Of Jesus and His work and promises

  • The one, person and circumstance before you who is providing the opportunity to return Jesus and His peace to Lordship - and to love as Jesus loved - even our (perceived or real) enemy

    • Instead of your feelings, wants, desires

Back to… Romans 12:17 - that might begin by not avenging oneself 

Back to… Colossians 3:16  Work and serve as Jesus, as unto Jesus (because first, we are to love as Jesus loved) then do whatever we do as if it were for Jesus - the recipient of that love is not specified

Back to Romans 12:18-21 - even if they are our enemy - real or perceived (those closest to us) 

And one more time, Colossians 3:17

Do you want to be effective and productive in this kind of peace? This peace making? This peace bringing? This peacekeeping? And keeping might be just keeping your own peace in the middle of strife, the loan keeping the peace amongst the people.

There is only one way, and that is to be in view of the peace we have, by the mercy of God, and abide in that piece…

…then make every effort to add to your faith… 2Peter 1:1-15

And how we live amongst the believers, that is the fellowship of believers, should be a (mere) reflection of how we work to provide and promote peace in our homes with our family. Do not be fooled, this goes from the most intense place for this work to the next most intense place.

And remember, this, you and your peace and Jesus’ Lordship, will be tested, again and again, and again…

The privilege of being God’s children and joining Him in His mission: Go! (Mat 28; Phil 2)

The privilege of being God’s children and joining Him in His mission: Go!  …and make disciples of all…, …and teach them to obey, that is, to love me, and do it just like Me: as a servant! (Mat 28; Phil 2)

So, where do we start?  Our mission to the lost can only be an expression of how we live with and love those closest to us.  Acts 1:8   

It begins at home with those we live and work with - it is ours to love and serve others by praying, caring, and sharing.  Service with one another fuels our spiritual fervor, bringing to a boil our heart’s zeal for God, His people, and His mission - and this happens when we lovingly cooperate with God and each other. 

Service is love expressed to those we encounter as an expression of our love, in response to having been loved by God’s merciful and redeeming love.  To serve others is an act of loving obedience to Jesus and His commands as a grateful and humble response of the heart, a loved heart that desires to please the Him Who loves, GETTING TO express love the same way we have been loved.

Our hearts, our spirit, is stoked by service… 

Our heart’s passion is fanned into flame, by service - serving God in the service of others.  The god works we do bring our spirits to a “boil”  causing our heart’s love to spill over into the lives of one another - upon those God loves. 

Growing from: “I have to go”, to “I get to go”, to “ I want to go… let me go, here am I, send me!” (Matt 28; Isa 6; Heb 10)

Having seen God, been loved by God, now we get to love as God has loved us, and we do this, there is compassion being formed in us, not only for our brothers and sisters but for the world, the lost, growing in us is a compulsion to - Go!

To whom do I “Go!”…?

• Family

• Family of God 

• Neighbor 

• The lost - those who do not yet know

And how is it that we are to impact them? 

Romans 12:1-13 

Attitude and posture

Philippians 2:5-8

Ephesians 5:21

Loving those in front of us - beginning with those who are in front of us the most 

Matthew 20:25-28 

Mark 10:25-45

4 spheres of impact - 

• Family – 1Timothy 5:8  

  • Who are they?

  • What can I do?

  • How can I do it?

• Family of God - Galatians 6:9-10  

  • Who are they?

  • How are they?

  • What do I bring? (1Cor 12)

  • How can I bring it?

• Neighbor – Lev 19:118; Matt 5:43; Ja 2:8; Ro 13:8; Ga 5:14

  • Who is my neighbor?

  • How can I serve them?

  • How can I bring them hope and joy?

• The lost – 1Peter 3:13-16

  • Who in my life does not know Jesus?

  • Who is closest?

    • To me?

    • To the kingdom?

  • How can I pray for them?

  • How do I speak and live in front of them?  With them?

    • In such a way that they would ask me the reason for my hope?

  • Am I prepared to give a reason for my hope when asked

  • Is my attitude such that I would do so with gentleness and respect?

The privilege of being God’s children and joining Him in His mission: Go, like Jesus, as a servant

The privilege of being God’s children and joining Him in His mission: Go!  …and make disciples of all…, …and teach them to obey, that is, to love me, and do it just like Me: as a servant! (Mat 28; Phil 2)

So, where do we start?  Our mission to the lost should be an extension of how we live and love those closest to us.  Acts 1:8   

It begins at home with those we live and work with - it is ours to love and serve others by praying, caring, and sharing.  Service with one another fuels our spiritual fervor, bringing to a boil our heart’s zeal for God, His people, and His mission - and this happens when we lovingly cooperate with God and each other. 

Service is a love expressed to the ones we serve and share and is an expression of our love for God in response to God’s love so to serve others is a loving act of obedience to Jesus and His commands and is a grateful and humble response of the heart that has been loved, a loved heart that desires to please the One Who loves, expressing this love the same way it has been loved.

Our heart’s passion, is fanned into flame, by service, and bringing our spirits to a “boil”, our hearts begin to spill over with love for God and what God loves, now, loving as God has loved us, there is forming in us a  compassion for the world, that is, the lost, and a growing compelling us to go.

4 spheres of impact - 

Family – 1Timothy 5:8 “But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.”

Family of God - Galatians 6:9-10 “9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Neighbor – Lev 19:118 “love your neighbor as yourself”- Matt 5:43; Ja 2:8; Ro 13:8; Ga 5:14

The lost – Setting apart Christ as Lord we are the to be prepared to give a reason for your hope when you’re asked - we “go” to make disciples (Matt 28) - with a prepared heart (attitude and posture of a servant) to do good (serve) and have a ready answer for those who are and would ask 1Peter 3:13-16

And how is it that we are to impact them? 

Romans 12:1-13 

Through a sincere love that expresses itself in service: this is Jesus - in us and through us! Eph 2:8-10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…, …we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Galatians 5:6 “...The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” NIV or “...[if we are] in Christ Jesus…, …only faith activated and expressed and working through love. AMP

Why would my heart be inflamed when and as we serve?  Because we are living out our true nature (1Co 1:30; 2Co 5:21) and that nature's purpose: to be like Jesus (Ro 8:29): so know that - when we serve that is when We are most like Jesus - a humble, loving servant enslaved to those He serves. 

Philippians 2:1-8

Serve - to be a slave, enslaved - the verb 

• I am a slave, am subject to

• to serve as a slave, having all personal ownership rights assigned to the owner; (figuratively) to willingly give over the prerogative to be self-governing.

• to yield obedience, Romans 7:6; τίνι, to obey one's commands and render to him the services due.

How can this be?! Well, if we are REALLY “...created in Christ Jesus…” and that “...to do good works…” then it must be that we are what He is and are to think and act as He does - because this IS real and sincere love.  

Ephesians 5:1-2 Imitation: the greatest form of flattery - a form we cannot avoid because we are God’s children!

Philippians 2:13 loving co-operation: it is God who works in us to desire and (want to) do His will and purposes!  (Gal 5)

Where does this start? We will, for now, assume this - well, after being loved and served by Jesus Himself, we, begin to think and act like Him!

Phil 2:1  “1Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion”

Just like Jesus reminded Himself - we need to be reminded, not just assume:  So, Jesus, reminding Himself of the truth of Who He was in and to His Father “...knowing from whom He came and where He was going - being held by His Father - He would now show the disciples the extent of His love… He put on the servant’s towel and took up the servant’s basin and took the servant’s attitude, posture, position, and acts of service, or, enslavement” John 13:1-5

So, being reminded of who WE are IN and TO God, our Father, we can now show each other the full extent of our love (born out of Jesus’ love for us and the Spirit in us) 

Phil 1:2-4 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Seeing “others as better than ourselves” AND “not only to our own interests, but we look also to the interests of others” and love and serve with IS A MATTER OF HAVING THE “same attitude as Jesus…” 

So know that… Attitude is EVERYTHING!  

Phil 2:5-8  “5In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature a God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature b of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death…”

All of this starts with an attitude… …an attitude adjustment that is - we are not our own.

Jesus, a slave? - the noun, the one who serves or is a slave - in this case, to His Father’s will.

• someone who belongs to another; a bond-slave, without any ownership rights of their own. Ironically, ("bond-slave") is used with the highest dignity in the NT – namely, of believers who willingly live under Christ's authority as His devoted followers.

And in our case, to the One who has purchased us - and that - with His own life, for eternal life!

So if Jesus is a slave, a bond-servant, and we are in Jesus - created in Him - we too are bondservants, slaves, bought with a price - we are not our own!

1Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 7:4 “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.”

We are not our own, we are Jesus’s, and, whether we know it or not, each others 

Romans 12:5 “...so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.”

Romans 12:1-13 Why would my heart be inflamed when and as we serve?

Romans 12:1-13 Why would my heart be inflamed when and as we serve?  Because we are living out our nature, our nature's purpose: it is when We are most like Jesus - a humble, loving servant. 

Serve - to be a slave, enslaved - the verb 

• I am a slave, am subject to

• to serve as a slave, having all personal ownership rights assigned to the owner; (figuratively) to willingly give over the prerogative to be self-governing.

• to yield obedience, Romans 7:6; τίνι, to obey one's commands and render to him the services due.

Phil 2:5-8 

Jesus, a slave? - the noun, the one who serves or is a slave

• someone who belongs to another; a bond-slave, without any ownership rights of their own. Ironically, ("bond-slave") is used with the highest dignity in the NT – namely, of believers who willingly live under Christ's authority as His devoted followers.

“I have not come to be served, but to serve.” 

• Father 

  • John 5:19 “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”

  • John 6:38 “I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.”

• His brothers…, and, family 

  • Mark 3:34-35 “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

  • John 19:26 “When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.”

  • Acts 1:14 “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”

  • 1Corinthians 15:7 “Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles”

• By coming to love the world, loving us, having set an example for us, teaches us to love 

  • John 13:34 “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.”

  • 1John 4:10 “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

  • Romans 5:8,10 “...God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Am I a disciple…

As Jesus serves the Father, the Spirit serves Jesus… and us.

• John 14:23-26  “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.  25“All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

• John 10:35 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

So, what do we do?  Our mission to the lost should be an extension of how we live and love those close.  

It begins at home with those with whom we live and work - it is ours to love and serve others by praying, caring, and sharing.  Service with and to one another ignites and fuels our spiritual fervor, bringing to fervent boil our heart’s zeal for God, His people, and His mission - to win to Himself the lost - and that with our loving cooperation. So, we must see that service and mission are inseparable, they are intertwined, each causes the other to go act and move, like a perpetual motion machine.

Service and mission are both an act of love, yes a love expressed to who we serve and share, but also an expression of our love for God and who and what God loves.  Each is a loving act of obedience to Jesus and His commands and is a grateful and humble response of the heart that has been loved and desires to please the One who commands, and expresses this love the same way it has been loved.

Our heart’s passion, is fanned into flame, by service, and bringing our spirits to a “boil”, our hearts begin to spill over with love for God and what God loves, now, loving as God has loved us, there is forming in us a  compassion for the world, that is, the lost, and a growing compelling us to go

• Family

• Family of God - John 13:34-35; 1John 4:7-21; Romans 12

  • they will know you are my disciples by how you love one another

  • Keeping your spiritual fervor by serving the Lord

• Neighbor - love your neighbor as yourself - James 2:8; Rom 13:8

  • Being prepared to give a reason for your hope when you’re asked - 1Peter 3:13-16

Crucifying Our Orphan Spirit Romans 8:31-39

READ (Romans 8:31-39 ESV)

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also 

with him graciously give us all things? 

33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

34 Who is to condemn?  Christ Jesus is the one who died more than that, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, 

or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 

36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. 

 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor 

things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

REFLECT

• Main Point: God is for you now and forever. Nothing and no one has the power to change that.

Because of Christ …

1. No one can oppose you (vs. 32)

2. No charge against you will stick (vs. 33)

3. No one will condemn you (vs. 34)

4. No one will separate you (vs. 35-39)
   

RESPOND

1. Crucify your orphan mindset

2. Pray intimately and confidently

3. Be who you are

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER (private or group study)

1.) If God expressed what He felt about you, what do you think He’d say?

2.) How might truly believing God is for you affect your intimacy with Him?

3.) What would look different in your life if you truly believed this passage?