WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.200 If you would turn in your Bibles to the book of John, John chapter number 14. 00:00:07.080 --> 00:00:16.000 Today as we celebrate this season of Advent, we've already looked at the hope that we have in Christ. 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:20.440 And we have looked at the joy that we have in Christ. 00:00:20.440 --> 00:00:25.080 And today we are going to look at the peace that we have in Christ. 00:00:25.079 --> 00:00:33.839 And it is amazing as we celebrate this time of Advent, we can look back to the fact that Jesus came to earth already. 00:00:33.839 --> 00:00:36.739 And we celebrate these things of Advent. 00:00:37.060 --> 00:00:43.539 But even more so, we have the future to look forward to of the kingdom of God that is coming. 00:00:43.719 --> 00:00:53.340 And the full ramification, the full sense in which we can experience these things will be realized in that time. 00:00:53.340 --> 00:01:02.560 And as I was preparing to speak on peace today, when Nathan came to me and asked me to speak on this, 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:10.560 at first I was a little intimidated because really when you think about it, there's not a lot of sermons that we hear on peace. 00:01:10.659 --> 00:01:13.540 We hear a lot about hope. We hear a lot about love and joy. 00:01:13.700 --> 00:01:17.939 But peace is one of those areas that we don't really hear a lot about. 00:01:17.939 --> 00:01:26.939 And really the first thing that came into my mind when I thought about this topic of peace was that peace is almost elusive. 00:01:27.659 --> 00:01:32.939 You know, it's something that we all desire, that we all want to experience in our lives. 00:01:33.099 --> 00:01:36.560 And we all know that it should be a reality in our lives. 00:01:37.159 --> 00:01:38.400 But many times it's not. 00:01:38.539 --> 00:01:43.900 Many times it's something that we don't think that we can fully have right now. 00:01:43.900 --> 00:01:49.520 You know, when we look out in the world today and see everything that is going on, 00:01:49.980 --> 00:01:53.960 peace is probably one of the last words that I would describe what we see. 00:01:54.219 --> 00:01:56.680 You know, we have wars going on. 00:01:56.760 --> 00:01:59.420 We have the 2020 election coming up. 00:01:59.500 --> 00:02:04.620 We have everything in the world that is showing us that peace is not a reality. 00:02:05.640 --> 00:02:09.659 Yet when we look at scripture, we see that peace is mentioned all over the Bible. 00:02:09.659 --> 00:02:16.300 You know, we've already listened to Reese this morning and Nathan when he read the passage today talking about peace. 00:02:16.939 --> 00:02:20.859 And it's amazing that peace is mentioned in the Bible over 400 times. 00:02:21.060 --> 00:02:23.780 So this is something that is really talked about. 00:02:23.900 --> 00:02:27.019 But at the same time, it's something that we don't really grasp. 00:02:27.579 --> 00:02:30.319 And as I was thinking about this and as I was looking through, 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:36.159 I ran across a survey of the American population. 00:02:36.159 --> 00:02:39.460 And in this dealing with how do we have peace in our lives? 00:02:39.460 --> 00:02:43.740 Do we have peace or do we have anxiety, fear, and worry? 00:02:44.320 --> 00:02:51.000 And I was reading and I found that about one in six Americans, according to a 2016 survey, 00:02:51.500 --> 00:03:01.900 one in six Americans take some sort of drugs that deal with anxiety or fear or antidepressants or stuff like that. 00:03:01.960 --> 00:03:02.939 One in six Americans. 00:03:02.939 --> 00:03:03.039 One in six Americans. 00:03:04.579 --> 00:03:12.979 I also saw a number that shocked me as well that suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in America. 00:03:13.500 --> 00:03:18.219 And the crazy thing about it is that it's the 10th leading cause, 00:03:18.379 --> 00:03:25.939 but with people who attempt suicide, there's 25 attempts for every one successful suicide. 00:03:25.939 --> 00:03:32.800 And so people commit or try to commit suicide, but they most of the time do not succeed. 00:03:32.979 --> 00:03:36.259 One in every 25 succeeds. 00:03:36.439 --> 00:03:39.060 And so this is definitely a rampant problem. 00:03:39.319 --> 00:03:45.759 And it's not just something of, you know, like older into adulthood, you know, kind of this hopeless sense. 00:03:45.759 --> 00:03:51.679 It's the second leading cause of death for those aged 15 to 24. 00:03:52.239 --> 00:04:02.359 So this idea of anxiety and fear and anger and just whatever else you have going on is something that affects every single one of us. 00:04:02.360 --> 00:04:09.240 And we see here that it's not just in the U.S., but really worldwide as well. 00:04:10.180 --> 00:04:18.520 So in a world where we see anything but peace, how do we as Christians experience peace in our lives? 00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:24.900 And is it something that we can experience or is it just something that we look forward to in the future? 00:04:24.899 --> 00:04:31.779 When we look at peace in the Bible, as I said, it's mentioned just about 400 times in Scripture. 00:04:32.500 --> 00:04:34.759 And it goes all the way back to the very beginning. 00:04:35.139 --> 00:04:39.159 In Numbers chapter 6, you might have heard this passage before. 00:04:39.299 --> 00:04:48.339 It's kind of a popular verse that Moses or God commands Moses to give this blessing to Aaron and to his sons. 00:04:48.339 --> 00:04:48.959 And he says, 00:04:48.959 --> 00:04:56.119 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Lord of Israel. 00:04:56.599 --> 00:04:59.639 You shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep you. 00:04:59.859 --> 00:05:03.719 The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. 00:05:04.120 --> 00:05:08.899 The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 00:05:08.899 --> 00:05:19.659 So we see that this idea of peace is something that should be in our lives, that it's commanded, that God encourages us to experience peace. 00:05:20.299 --> 00:05:23.819 And even it's rooted so much in the Jewish culture as well. 00:05:24.199 --> 00:05:31.620 You know, when they greet one another, even to this day, they say shalom, which is the one Hebrew word I know. 00:05:32.819 --> 00:05:37.299 So that just goes to show you how prominent it is, which means peace. 00:05:37.300 --> 00:05:43.520 And so even in their greetings, the desire for peace, we all desire peace in our lives. 00:05:44.579 --> 00:05:47.780 And Jesus spoke about peace a lot. 00:05:47.840 --> 00:05:56.360 And in fact, he made it a priority because in this text that we are going to read today at the end of John chapter number 14, 00:05:57.080 --> 00:06:01.080 it is some of Jesus's last sayings to his disciples. 00:06:01.080 --> 00:06:05.460 This is the last night that he is going to be spending with his disciples. 00:06:05.459 --> 00:06:09.819 And he takes this time to comfort them and to give them peace. 00:06:09.939 --> 00:06:15.279 So we're going to start reading in John 14, starting in verse 25. 00:06:16.479 --> 00:06:17.459 Jesus says, 00:06:17.459 --> 00:06:26.939 These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you, but the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, 00:06:27.339 --> 00:06:32.139 he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 00:06:32.939 --> 00:06:34.620 Peace I leave with you. 00:06:35.159 --> 00:06:37.399 My peace I give to you. 00:06:38.019 --> 00:06:40.759 Not as the world gives do I give to you. 00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:42.539 Let not your hearts be troubled. 00:06:43.079 --> 00:06:44.519 Neither let them be afraid. 00:06:44.519 --> 00:06:48.899 You heard me say to you, I am going away and I will come to you. 00:06:49.060 --> 00:06:55.439 If you loved me, you would have rejoiced because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 00:06:56.120 --> 00:07:02.039 And now I have told you before it takes place so that when it does take place, you may believe. 00:07:02.819 --> 00:07:06.779 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:11.279 He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:14.259 so that the world may know that I love the Father. 00:07:14.759 --> 00:07:16.839 Rise, let us go from here. 00:07:17.819 --> 00:07:22.659 So there's a lot of things going on in this text, and we won't necessarily touch on everything. 00:07:22.660 --> 00:07:31.140 I want to really focus in on what Jesus says in verse number 27, where he says, 00:07:31.260 --> 00:07:32.620 Peace I leave with you. 00:07:32.900 --> 00:07:34.580 My peace I give to you. 00:07:34.660 --> 00:07:37.320 Not as the world gives do I give to you. 00:07:37.720 --> 00:07:39.180 Let not your hearts be troubled. 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:41.760 Neither let them be afraid. 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:47.360 And so Jesus draws this distinction of two places. 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:51.460 He shows how the world has its offering of peace. 00:07:51.960 --> 00:07:56.620 And he shows how his offering of peace is completely different than what the world gives. 00:07:57.160 --> 00:08:03.280 And so I want to focus at the beginning on what kind of peace does the world try to offer us. 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:09.879 We already see that the world that we have around us is anything but peaceful. 00:08:09.879 --> 00:08:17.100 And yet so often we try to go in the route that it tells us to on how to find peace. 00:08:17.899 --> 00:08:22.680 You know, if I were to take a survey here and ask everybody in this room, you know, 00:08:22.740 --> 00:08:28.519 if you suffer at any time in your life from anxiety or fear or maybe depression, 00:08:29.180 --> 00:08:33.960 I would imagine that almost everybody would raise their hand. 00:08:34.100 --> 00:08:38.299 You know, whether you are suffering from that right now or have in the past 00:08:38.299 --> 00:08:41.500 or most likely will in the future, it's very much a reality, you know, 00:08:41.539 --> 00:08:45.240 that we will suffer troubles in this world. 00:08:45.799 --> 00:08:52.019 And when we do, what do we go to in order to try to help us in that time? 00:08:53.019 --> 00:08:56.779 The world, of course, does not have a picture of the gospel. 00:08:56.959 --> 00:08:59.579 The world doesn't have a picture of who God is. 00:08:59.879 --> 00:09:03.819 And so then the natural result, the natural place to look 00:09:03.819 --> 00:09:08.199 is either in your surroundings or most of the time in yourself. 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:14.779 And how many times do we read and even see in the bookstores of these tons of books 00:09:14.779 --> 00:09:18.459 that show how to help yourself, you know, like these self-help books? 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:20.459 You know, some of them have great things to offer. 00:09:20.579 --> 00:09:23.679 Some of them have ways in which that we can improve, you know, 00:09:23.699 --> 00:09:25.000 our surroundings around us. 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:30.819 But all of them fall short in this way and the fact that they ultimately look to yourself 00:09:30.819 --> 00:09:33.500 in order to fix your own problems. 00:09:34.460 --> 00:09:39.159 And it's amazing how even we as Christians fall in that trap as well. 00:09:39.580 --> 00:09:45.259 You know, I look back in my life and I see difficulties and see problems that I have in my life. 00:09:45.320 --> 00:09:51.840 And for the most part, the beginning reaction, the first thing that I go to is not really to the Bible 00:09:51.840 --> 00:09:55.460 or to prayer, but it's thinking to myself, how do I fix this problem? 00:09:55.460 --> 00:09:55.840 Right? 00:09:55.900 --> 00:09:58.240 Like I have this problem in my life. 00:09:58.500 --> 00:10:01.820 I am suffering fear from it, insecurity, anxiety. 00:10:01.820 --> 00:10:05.740 And how do I solve this in order to get away from this feeling? 00:10:05.940 --> 00:10:08.560 Like nobody enjoys suffering anxiety. 00:10:08.780 --> 00:10:10.660 Nobody enjoys suffering fear. 00:10:10.659 --> 00:10:16.019 And so our natural reaction is to quickly see how can we solve this problem? 00:10:16.139 --> 00:10:22.480 How can we run away from this problem in order to come to a more peaceful state of mind? 00:10:23.059 --> 00:10:25.240 And that's exactly what the world teaches us to do. 00:10:25.319 --> 00:10:30.600 The world teaches us that, you know, our problems are something that we should try to run away from 00:10:30.600 --> 00:10:35.560 or either figure out in ourselves of how we can fix our own problems, 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:41.980 of looking to us and looking to us as the solution to what we have going on in our life. 00:10:42.740 --> 00:10:51.659 And so often we fall into this trap and we begin to look to ourselves and try to figure it out. 00:10:52.440 --> 00:10:54.620 And what does that usually cause? 00:10:54.800 --> 00:10:59.700 I don't know about for you, but for me, that just causes more fear, more worry, 00:10:59.700 --> 00:11:07.280 and more anxiety because I begin to realize how inept I am to figure out the problems that I have going on in life. 00:11:07.960 --> 00:11:10.480 You know, and it really affects all stages of life. 00:11:10.620 --> 00:11:11.980 You know, it was kind of funny. 00:11:12.440 --> 00:11:21.120 I don't know if you guys have watched Frozen 2, but you know, the scene with Olaf where he is in the woods. 00:11:21.300 --> 00:11:22.300 Hopefully there's no spoilers. 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:22.780 I'm sorry. 00:11:23.280 --> 00:11:29.140 And so he's singing this song and there's all sorts of things going wrong all around him. 00:11:29.740 --> 00:11:32.179 And he's singing this song saying, you know what? 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:36.699 This doesn't make sense right now that I'm young, but when I'm old, I will understand all things 00:11:36.699 --> 00:11:39.559 and everything will be just fine with life. 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:46.840 And the funny part about that song is because all of us in the audience realize how far away from truth that is. 00:11:47.059 --> 00:11:52.379 You know, we have this hope as children that, you know, one day everything in life will make sense. 00:11:52.379 --> 00:11:55.860 Everything will run perfectly smooth exactly how I want it to. 00:11:56.500 --> 00:12:02.700 And then we find a horrible reality, you know, in our minds that when we grow up, that's not exactly what it is. 00:12:02.759 --> 00:12:05.120 In fact, there are more problems that arise. 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:10.600 You know, when you were from 10 years old to 20 years old to 30 years old to 40 years old. 00:12:10.899 --> 00:12:16.279 There are constantly things coming up in our life that cause anxiety and worry and fear. 00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:25.220 And because of that, it really begins to dampen our walk with Christ. 00:12:25.620 --> 00:12:33.159 You know, we begin to focus a lot on what the problems are in life rather than focusing on Christ himself. 00:12:33.159 --> 00:12:39.299 And so the world tries to offer, you know, the solutions to this problem of peace, 00:12:39.659 --> 00:12:44.579 of saying that you must look to yourself, you must look to other people in order to solve that. 00:12:45.059 --> 00:12:50.360 But Jesus, here in this text, draws us to a completely different focus. 00:12:50.959 --> 00:12:55.480 Instead, he realizes the fact that these disciples are about to go through something 00:12:55.480 --> 00:12:59.579 that they cannot possibly imagine right now what they're about to go through. 00:12:59.580 --> 00:13:05.220 You know, in the back of their minds, they are thinking that Jesus is the Messiah. 00:13:05.400 --> 00:13:11.139 And their picture of the Messiah is, hey, he is going to come and going to get rid of this Roman Empire 00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:12.639 that we have suppressing us. 00:13:12.780 --> 00:13:15.639 And we are going to be rulers and we're finally going to be free. 00:13:16.420 --> 00:13:23.259 And what Jesus has come to do has not set us free from the problems that we have in this world, 00:13:23.259 --> 00:13:29.420 but rather has come to set us free with a relationship with God and having peace with God. 00:13:29.580 --> 00:13:35.100 And so he is speaking to his disciples in this way of saying, hey, you know what? 00:13:35.460 --> 00:13:39.500 I am about to leave you, you know, which, of course, comes as a shock to disciples. 00:13:39.500 --> 00:13:46.160 If you read up earlier in John chapter 14, Jesus is saying how he is going to go away to the Father. 00:13:46.660 --> 00:13:48.900 And Philip says, hey, like, where are you going? 00:13:48.980 --> 00:13:50.480 We're going to follow after you. 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:59.379 And Jesus tells him that he is going to the Father and that he will one day, you know, come to the Father as well, 00:13:59.460 --> 00:14:00.680 but that Jesus is leaving. 00:14:00.800 --> 00:14:06.600 And this thought process is something that's totally foreign to the disciples that they don't understand. 00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:12.420 And so Jesus is preparing them for this time that he is going to be crucified, 00:14:12.420 --> 00:14:17.000 that he is going to leave them, but he's not going to leave them hopeless. 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:19.299 He's not going to leave them alone. 00:14:19.419 --> 00:14:23.960 He gives them the comfort that he is going to give them the Holy Spirit. 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:31.539 And as we look to this comfort, I want us to turn in our Bibles to Romans chapter 8. 00:14:34.500 --> 00:14:39.539 And as we see here in Romans chapter 8, we're going to be looking at verse number 5. 00:14:39.539 --> 00:14:50.639 And as I was thinking about this, of trying to accomplish this work in our own life, of working it out in the flesh, 00:14:51.199 --> 00:14:58.659 my brain, I thought back to in school I heard this story analogy from Benjamin Franklin. 00:14:58.939 --> 00:15:04.579 So Benjamin Franklin was a guy who really tried to pursue after good morals, 00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:11.759 of living a good life, of knowing that if you live the way that you should, you know, in essence, you should have peace in life. 00:15:11.900 --> 00:15:14.259 And so Benjamin Franklin pursued after that. 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:20.420 And so he wrote a list of 13 morals, 13 attitudes that he wanted to try to keep, 00:15:20.580 --> 00:15:23.740 and to achieve almost this moral perfection. 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:27.460 And so what he did was he wrote out these 13 principles, 00:15:27.460 --> 00:15:32.780 and each week he would focus on one principle that he would try to live out, 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:35.000 you know, in order to be able to live a better life, 00:15:35.259 --> 00:15:39.360 and the ultimate end of finding peace in life. 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:44.040 And so what he found was that the week that he would focus on the one moral, 00:15:44.400 --> 00:15:46.680 he would usually do pretty well in that, right? 00:15:46.700 --> 00:15:51.440 Like if your brain is focused on something, you know, you tend to succeed in that. 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:53.960 But the other 12 would kind of be lacking. 00:15:54.259 --> 00:15:55.620 And so he's like, okay, no worries. 00:15:55.620 --> 00:15:57.960 This first week, you know, we've got this one down. 00:15:58.019 --> 00:15:58.820 We'll move on to the second. 00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:03.700 So the second week comes, he focuses in on the second moral, does pretty well, 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:06.779 but then finds that he starts to lack in the first one again. 00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:12.299 And this is just a constant rotation and problem that, you know, he would do well on one, 00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:17.600 but then the others would suffer because he wasn't really putting a lot of attention and focus in that. 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:23.039 And isn't that true in our lives as well, where, you know, when we see problems in our lives, 00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:28.379 a lot of times, you know, we can kind of face those head on and tackle one at a time. 00:16:28.599 --> 00:16:34.759 But you notice that the other problems that you had in life tend to rise up a little bit more during that time 00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:39.219 to where it's like, man, I cannot focus my attention on everything that I have going on. 00:16:39.299 --> 00:16:45.559 I can maybe conquer this one area for a little while in my own natural self, you know, we think. 00:16:45.559 --> 00:16:50.919 But these other areas become problems again and just leads to more anxiety and more fear. 00:16:51.559 --> 00:16:56.959 And Paul talks about this in Romans chapter number eight. 00:16:57.299 --> 00:17:03.139 And he says, starting in verse number five, he says, 00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:08.299 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh. 00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:13.019 But those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 00:17:13.619 --> 00:17:18.839 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:24.500 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law. 00:17:24.680 --> 00:17:25.339 Indeed, it cannot. 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:28.639 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:35.600 And we see the most important thing here, the fact that if we begin to trust and depend on our flesh 00:17:35.600 --> 00:17:42.160 in order to get us out of this problem, it will only lead to more problems. 00:17:42.380 --> 00:17:47.060 Paul here shows that this is just a completely different mindset. 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:52.700 That we must take our mind off of the flesh, off of what we can do to solve our problems, 00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:54.600 and to put our mind on Christ. 00:17:54.599 --> 00:18:04.839 And so the first thing that we need to do and we need to make sure of is the fact that we do indeed have a relationship with God. 00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:13.419 You know, we see here in later on or earlier on in Romans chapter number five and in Colossians as well 00:18:13.419 --> 00:18:20.439 that Jesus Christ has come to the earth in order that we might have peace with God. 00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:27.360 His death on the cross and his resurrection provided us an opportunity to have a relationship with God. 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:36.360 That we were enemies of God because of our sin, but because Christ came and died on the cross to pay for our sins, 00:18:36.660 --> 00:18:42.240 if we trust and depend on him and his sacrifice, we have peace with God. 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:47.859 And so our standing with God is not one where God is looking to destroy us, 00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:54.339 but rather God loves us and cares for us and has a relationship with us. 00:18:55.059 --> 00:19:02.039 But just because we have peace with God doesn't always mean that we experience peace. 00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:07.599 You know, just because we have the status of peace with God doesn't mean that in our hearts, 00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:12.939 we all the time, 24-7, experience the peace that we so greatly desire. 00:19:13.459 --> 00:19:16.679 In fact, I would say a lot of times the opposite is true, 00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:20.319 where even though we know that we have peace with God, 00:19:20.740 --> 00:19:25.339 getting from the knowing to feeling sometimes takes a really long time. 00:19:25.639 --> 00:19:31.419 And it's something that we continue to struggle with and continue to try to endure. 00:19:31.420 --> 00:19:37.259 And so as we look at the passage in Romans of what Paul is saying here, 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:43.940 that our minds so often go to the flesh, which only leads to destruction, 00:19:44.060 --> 00:19:50.440 that we must set our minds on Christ in order to really experience this victory. 00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:58.960 A lot of times what I notice in the more conservative movement that we find ourselves in, 00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:06.279 that there's a lot of emphasis placed on our condition before Christ, right? 00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:12.299 That we are sinners, depraved, and worthy of God's judgment, which is totally true. 00:20:12.380 --> 00:20:14.340 And it's really good that we focus in on that, 00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:18.860 because when we see how bad we are and see how great Christ is, 00:20:18.900 --> 00:20:21.200 it gives us a lot of hope to realize that, 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:25.620 hey, I'm not the solver of my problems, but rather Christ is. 00:20:25.619 --> 00:20:30.379 But I think one area where we find a little bit of weakness is, 00:20:30.919 --> 00:20:33.679 when we now have a relationship with God, 00:20:34.159 --> 00:20:37.399 we are not the same person as what we once were. 00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:39.599 We are not depraved sinners. 00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:42.639 Rather, we have Christ's righteousness in us. 00:20:42.779 --> 00:20:45.019 And a lot of times I know in my life, 00:20:45.239 --> 00:20:47.679 my brain has just been fixed on the fact that, 00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:48.839 oh, I am a sinner. 00:20:49.259 --> 00:20:53.739 You know, I almost expect to do wrong rather than do right. 00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:57.359 I expect, you know, to fail rather than succeed. 00:20:57.980 --> 00:21:01.120 And a lot of times I have an incorrect mindset in that. 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:05.339 And we see that Paul corrects this in verse number nine of this text, 00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:06.400 where he says, 00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:10.359 you, however, are not in the flesh, but in the spirit. 00:21:11.079 --> 00:21:13.339 If in fact the spirit of God dwells in you, 00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:17.039 anyone who does not have the spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 00:21:17.420 --> 00:21:18.779 But if Christ is in you, 00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:20.960 although the body is dead because of sin, 00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:23.579 the spirit is life because of righteousness. 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:28.000 If the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, 00:21:28.340 --> 00:21:32.940 he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies 00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:34.960 through his spirit who dwells in you. 00:21:35.579 --> 00:21:38.700 And so Paul mentions this problem that we have in our lives, right? 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:43.660 Where we still have this sinful flesh in us that constantly fails, 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:46.200 that is constantly inclined to do wrong, 00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:46.940 to do incorrect, 00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:49.420 to have a wrong thought process. 00:21:49.420 --> 00:21:50.840 But at the same time, 00:21:50.900 --> 00:21:53.840 it's not that that is the only thing that we have in us. 00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:56.460 We have the spirit of Christ in us. 00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:59.300 We have Christ's righteousness in us. 00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:01.220 And the fact that, you know, 00:22:01.300 --> 00:22:03.640 we should not necessarily anticipate, 00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:04.580 oh, you know what, 00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:07.960 I am going to sin and almost have this mindset of failure. 00:22:08.360 --> 00:22:09.039 But rather, 00:22:09.259 --> 00:22:13.900 we need to rest and trust in the fact that we have Christ's righteousness in us. 00:22:14.320 --> 00:22:17.820 That there is nothing that the enemy can throw at us, 00:22:17.819 --> 00:22:21.599 or nothing that we can experience in which we do not have hope in. 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:26.039 That we do not have the power of Christ in us. 00:22:26.579 --> 00:22:30.159 And that's what Jesus is drawing the disciples back to, 00:22:30.339 --> 00:22:32.939 back in our text of John 14, 00:22:33.619 --> 00:22:34.379 where he says that, 00:22:34.439 --> 00:22:34.819 you know what, 00:22:34.939 --> 00:22:39.359 the peace that the world offers is not something that's complete. 00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:41.500 It is something that is always going to fail you. 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:45.099 The peace that I offer you is something that is complete, 00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:48.539 because the peace that I offer you indwells you. 00:22:48.859 --> 00:22:50.119 And that is the Holy Spirit. 00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:56.160 And so we see here that Jesus is comforting his disciples during this time. 00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:58.740 And now what I really want to focus in on is, 00:22:58.940 --> 00:23:03.339 how do we experience this peace from God? 00:23:04.119 --> 00:23:05.339 And like I said earlier, 00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:09.740 there are so many times in our lives where we know the truth. 00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:13.420 I would venture to say that in this congregation, 00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:19.180 we know more truth than probably a lot of Christians throughout church history. 00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:23.220 I don't think knowledge is something that we are lacking in, 00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:24.900 or what is the real problem. 00:23:25.339 --> 00:23:26.920 The real problem, I believe, 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:30.539 is getting the knowledge down to how we feel, 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:33.420 and down to the emotional level. 00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:33.779 You know, 00:23:33.859 --> 00:23:36.460 I can know a lot of things about God, 00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:43.380 but still not experience the peace that God has for us to offer. 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:45.840 So how do we go about doing that? 00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:46.220 You know, 00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:50.940 Jesus here encourages his disciples to let not your hearts be troubled, 00:23:51.420 --> 00:23:52.860 and don't let them be afraid, 00:23:53.240 --> 00:23:55.819 and to go back to his commands, 00:23:55.920 --> 00:23:57.960 and go back to what he has said, 00:23:58.019 --> 00:23:59.759 and to live and to rest in that. 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:02.259 And a lot of times, 00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:02.740 you know, 00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:04.680 we don't do that. 00:24:04.819 --> 00:24:06.319 We allow our hearts, 00:24:06.379 --> 00:24:10.079 and we allow our thoughts to drift away from Christ, 00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:13.180 and then focus in on the problems of life. 00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:17.819 And here's the great thing about finding peace with God, 00:24:17.859 --> 00:24:21.359 is the fact that when we were enemies of God, 00:24:21.400 --> 00:24:22.720 when we tried to find peace, 00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:24.740 we had to try to fix our problems, 00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:26.119 or run away from our problems. 00:24:26.119 --> 00:24:27.359 But instead, 00:24:27.619 --> 00:24:29.659 now that we have a relationship with God, 00:24:30.339 --> 00:24:33.439 Christ does not encourage us to just run away from our problems. 00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:33.759 You know, 00:24:33.899 --> 00:24:36.139 he tells us all throughout the New Testament, 00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:36.959 all throughout his word, 00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:38.579 that you will experience trials. 00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:41.299 You will experience things that come into your life. 00:24:41.659 --> 00:24:43.839 But instead of trying to run away from it, 00:24:43.899 --> 00:24:46.079 instead of trying to figure it out, 00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:47.619 the greatest thing in the world, 00:24:47.659 --> 00:24:48.959 the most comforting thing in the world, 00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:49.439 is he says, 00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:51.219 come to me with it. 00:24:51.479 --> 00:24:53.079 We are to come to Christ. 00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:56.859 Peace is not found in trying to run away from something, 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:58.059 or trying to escape, 00:24:58.399 --> 00:25:00.519 but rather peace is found in a person. 00:25:00.919 --> 00:25:02.019 And that person is Christ. 00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:03.740 And we are to run to Christ, 00:25:04.179 --> 00:25:05.419 and to depend on him, 00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:07.960 and to not try to run away from our troubles, 00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:10.699 but rather to take what is going on in our lives, 00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:11.599 to take our fears, 00:25:11.859 --> 00:25:12.960 to take our anxieties, 00:25:13.199 --> 00:25:14.899 to take the struggles that we have, 00:25:15.399 --> 00:25:16.919 and bring them to Christ, 00:25:17.419 --> 00:25:21.099 and ask him to work in our hearts through this time. 00:25:21.099 --> 00:25:22.819 And you know what? 00:25:22.919 --> 00:25:24.279 As we do this, 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:27.740 it's not something that is necessarily a quick fix. 00:25:28.539 --> 00:25:31.059 You know, I think in our culture today, 00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:35.139 we want something that solves the problem immediately, right? 00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:37.079 And I think, you know, 00:25:37.159 --> 00:25:38.899 to some of the things that I do, 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:41.959 so I like to invest in the stock market. 00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:45.019 I enjoy investing in businesses and companies. 00:25:45.679 --> 00:25:46.939 And here's the thing. 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:49.939 A lot of people lose money when they invest. 00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:52.140 I think almost 90% of people 00:25:52.140 --> 00:25:53.880 who invest in the stock market lose money. 00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:55.259 And why is that? 00:25:55.400 --> 00:25:57.180 You know, when we look at it, 00:25:57.220 --> 00:25:58.900 you know, it's constantly rising over time. 00:25:58.980 --> 00:25:59.940 Like, why would you lose money? 00:26:00.380 --> 00:26:02.400 And the thing is that most people who do it 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:05.480 are desiring to get rich really quickly, right? 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:06.259 Like, that's what we want. 00:26:06.320 --> 00:26:08.320 We want to be a millionaire, like, in a day. 00:26:08.620 --> 00:26:09.559 And so we figure out, 00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:10.820 okay, how can I do this? 00:26:11.080 --> 00:26:13.880 And we try to do all these things really fast. 00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:16.400 You know, whereas if we were more slow at it, 00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:18.160 you know, the people who really make money 00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:19.820 in the stock market don't make money 00:26:19.820 --> 00:26:21.240 in the stock market in two days. 00:26:21.320 --> 00:26:23.040 They make money in the stock market 00:26:23.040 --> 00:26:24.779 over three, four, five decades 00:26:24.779 --> 00:26:26.880 of just letting the money sit in there 00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:29.200 and letting the market do its work 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:32.120 rather than them getting too involved with it. 00:26:32.620 --> 00:26:33.320 And a lot of times, 00:26:33.360 --> 00:26:35.680 our spiritual life is the same way too, 00:26:35.820 --> 00:26:37.420 where we see problems 00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:38.920 and we want them fixed immediately. 00:26:39.320 --> 00:26:41.600 You know, I am experiencing anxiety. 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:43.599 I don't want to feel anxiety anymore 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:47.000 and I want to be solved in a day with this. 00:26:47.659 --> 00:26:50.119 And in reality, life doesn't work that way. 00:26:50.339 --> 00:26:52.519 It takes time and it takes patience 00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:54.519 and it takes a building of a relationship. 00:26:55.199 --> 00:26:56.799 You know, if you think about it, 00:26:56.859 --> 00:26:57.519 you know, the person, 00:26:57.919 --> 00:26:58.899 if you are married, 00:26:59.139 --> 00:27:01.619 most likely you didn't meet that person 00:27:01.619 --> 00:27:03.299 and get married to them in a week. 00:27:03.799 --> 00:27:05.059 You know, it took time 00:27:05.059 --> 00:27:06.599 to develop that relationship. 00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:09.699 It took time to develop that trust, 00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:13.299 to develop that love for the other person. 00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:14.460 And the same way goes 00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:15.880 with our relationship with Christ. 00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:17.920 You know, we may be struggling with fear. 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:19.319 We may be struggling with anxiety. 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:21.039 But the more and more 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:22.319 that we get to know Christ 00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:24.039 and the more and more that we learn 00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:25.900 to take our troubles to Him 00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:28.480 rather than trying to fix it on our own, 00:27:28.840 --> 00:27:31.480 the more we will experience the peace 00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:33.039 that He has to offer. 00:27:33.819 --> 00:27:36.600 And this is something that we grow in 00:27:36.600 --> 00:27:38.140 in our Christian life. 00:27:38.140 --> 00:27:39.259 And like I said, 00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:40.879 maybe you are sitting here today 00:27:40.879 --> 00:27:42.259 and you are struggling 00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:44.039 with this idea of peace 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:46.960 or this idea of having anxiety 00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:48.839 and fear and depression. 00:27:49.079 --> 00:27:50.640 Like, I don't know your heart, 00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:51.799 but I would venture to say 00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:53.240 that the statistics that I read 00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:53.720 at the beginning 00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:55.119 are probably pretty true 00:27:55.119 --> 00:27:56.980 with what we experience here 00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:57.980 in this room. 00:27:58.519 --> 00:28:00.140 And I want to let you know 00:28:00.140 --> 00:28:02.279 that my heart goes out for you. 00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:04.579 And we see here in the Bible 00:28:04.579 --> 00:28:06.379 that God cares so much about you. 00:28:06.380 --> 00:28:09.240 You know, He mentions over 400 times 00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:11.040 of how we can have peace with God. 00:28:11.120 --> 00:28:13.980 This is something that is so important 00:28:13.980 --> 00:28:17.280 to grasp and to understand in our lives. 00:28:17.860 --> 00:28:19.480 And it's something that is a lot of times 00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:20.420 so hard to feel 00:28:20.420 --> 00:28:22.540 because, like I said, 00:28:22.600 --> 00:28:24.400 we almost get into a rush with it 00:28:24.400 --> 00:28:25.480 and we think that our problems 00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:26.660 can be solved in a day 00:28:26.660 --> 00:28:28.320 rather than realizing 00:28:28.320 --> 00:28:29.300 that it is a lifetime 00:28:29.300 --> 00:28:30.800 of a relationship with Christ. 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:34.480 And so I want to offer you hope today. 00:28:35.059 --> 00:28:37.859 The hope that Christ offers us. 00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:40.839 Which is found in this last verse 00:28:40.839 --> 00:28:41.559 that I love 00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:43.200 that just really stuck out to me. 00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:45.519 And Jesus says, 00:28:45.859 --> 00:28:46.799 in verse number 30, 00:28:46.919 --> 00:28:47.139 He says, 00:28:47.259 --> 00:28:49.759 I will no longer talk much with you 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:52.379 for the ruler of this world is coming. 00:28:52.899 --> 00:28:55.000 He has no claim on me, 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:58.099 but I do as the Father has commanded me. 00:28:58.980 --> 00:29:00.619 And so often in our lives, 00:29:00.619 --> 00:29:03.240 we see how the enemy attacks us 00:29:03.240 --> 00:29:04.679 and we see how the enemy attacks 00:29:04.679 --> 00:29:05.679 the people that we love. 00:29:06.419 --> 00:29:07.319 And we begin to think 00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:08.519 that He is the one 00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:10.119 who has the power 00:29:10.119 --> 00:29:11.199 and the control 00:29:11.199 --> 00:29:12.759 in those areas of life. 00:29:13.480 --> 00:29:15.000 And Jesus here is saying that, 00:29:15.079 --> 00:29:15.419 you know what? 00:29:15.659 --> 00:29:16.980 Everything in this life 00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:17.819 that's coming up 00:29:17.819 --> 00:29:18.679 for these disciples 00:29:18.679 --> 00:29:20.740 is going to look like the enemy 00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:21.919 is the one who's in control. 00:29:22.379 --> 00:29:24.099 You know, in just a few short hours, 00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:25.839 Jesus is going to be betrayed 00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:27.159 by one of His own. 00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:30.080 He is going to be taken before Pilate. 00:29:30.140 --> 00:29:31.660 He's going to be taken before the people. 00:29:32.019 --> 00:29:33.480 And they are going to 00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:35.220 completely betray Him 00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:36.640 and have Him crucified. 00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:38.580 And the disciples are going to have 00:29:38.580 --> 00:29:40.560 the world turned upside down 00:29:40.560 --> 00:29:42.600 in about 24 hours. 00:29:43.120 --> 00:29:43.740 And He's saying, 00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:44.259 listen, 00:29:44.620 --> 00:29:45.860 it's going to look like 00:29:45.860 --> 00:29:46.500 the enemy 00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:48.840 is in complete control of this. 00:29:48.900 --> 00:29:49.480 It's going to look like 00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:51.779 the enemy has won this battle. 00:29:52.200 --> 00:29:53.860 But I want you to know 00:29:53.860 --> 00:29:57.100 that the enemy has no power. 00:29:57.660 --> 00:29:59.120 The ruler of the world is coming, 00:29:59.200 --> 00:30:00.840 but He has no claim on me. 00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:02.480 But I do as the Father 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:03.400 has commanded me. 00:30:04.300 --> 00:30:05.279 And I want to offer you 00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:06.580 that same hope 00:30:06.580 --> 00:30:07.440 that we have 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:08.380 that in your life 00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:09.180 you may feel 00:30:09.180 --> 00:30:10.240 that the enemy 00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:12.040 has power over you. 00:30:12.340 --> 00:30:12.980 You may feel 00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:13.880 completely hopeless. 00:30:14.540 --> 00:30:15.180 You may feel like 00:30:15.180 --> 00:30:15.960 there's nothing 00:30:15.960 --> 00:30:16.860 that can get you 00:30:16.860 --> 00:30:18.060 out of the place 00:30:18.060 --> 00:30:19.120 that you are in life 00:30:19.120 --> 00:30:19.720 right now. 00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:20.460 That there's just 00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:21.420 too many things 00:30:21.420 --> 00:30:22.200 that have gone on. 00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:23.360 Maybe it's stuff 00:30:23.360 --> 00:30:24.160 that you have done 00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:25.000 that you're just saying, 00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:27.200 man, I cannot be forgiven of this. 00:30:27.740 --> 00:30:29.059 Or maybe it's anxiety 00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:29.660 or fear 00:30:29.660 --> 00:30:31.000 or just even looking 00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:31.539 to the future 00:30:31.539 --> 00:30:31.840 and saying, 00:30:31.940 --> 00:30:33.140 hey, I can't handle this. 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:33.900 I can't do this. 00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:35.400 The enemy is winning 00:30:35.400 --> 00:30:36.519 right now in my life. 00:30:37.160 --> 00:30:38.519 And I want to encourage you 00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:40.860 that that is not the truth. 00:30:40.940 --> 00:30:41.700 That is the lie 00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:42.360 that the enemy 00:30:42.360 --> 00:30:43.980 is trying to bring 00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:44.720 into your heart. 00:30:44.840 --> 00:30:46.160 But the reality is 00:30:46.160 --> 00:30:47.400 that Jesus Christ 00:30:47.400 --> 00:30:48.440 has overcome. 00:30:48.440 --> 00:30:51.100 Jesus did not stay dead 00:30:51.100 --> 00:30:52.740 but he rose again 00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:55.000 conquering the death 00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:56.580 and the ultimate death 00:30:56.580 --> 00:30:59.820 and now allowing us 00:30:59.820 --> 00:31:01.340 to have peace with God 00:31:01.340 --> 00:31:03.120 through his resurrection 00:31:03.120 --> 00:31:04.220 through his payment. 00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:06.580 And how we can experience 00:31:06.580 --> 00:31:08.340 that in our lives today 00:31:08.340 --> 00:31:10.200 by taking our fears 00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:11.080 and anxieties 00:31:11.080 --> 00:31:12.460 and instead of trying 00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:14.700 to solve the problem ourselves 00:31:14.700 --> 00:31:17.200 rather taking them to Christ 00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:18.000 and being open 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:18.980 and honest with him. 00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:20.460 You know, I find it interesting 00:31:20.460 --> 00:31:21.700 in my life 00:31:21.700 --> 00:31:22.779 a lot of times when I pray 00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:23.680 it's almost like 00:31:23.680 --> 00:31:25.480 I try to cover 00:31:25.480 --> 00:31:26.799 and make my prayer 00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:27.799 sound a lot better 00:31:27.799 --> 00:31:28.740 than what I feel. 00:31:29.100 --> 00:31:29.319 You know? 00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:30.519 I begin to think, 00:31:30.620 --> 00:31:31.840 man, I can't really say 00:31:31.840 --> 00:31:32.920 this to God 00:31:32.920 --> 00:31:33.759 because, man, 00:31:33.819 --> 00:31:34.480 what would he think 00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:35.360 if I thought this? 00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:36.160 And then realizing, 00:31:36.360 --> 00:31:37.279 wait, he already sees 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.279 what I'm thinking. 00:31:38.380 --> 00:31:39.000 He already sees 00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:40.340 the fear that I have. 00:31:40.380 --> 00:31:40.860 He already sees 00:31:40.860 --> 00:31:41.559 the insecurity 00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:42.980 and the lack of trust 00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:43.660 that I have in him. 00:31:43.660 --> 00:31:44.539 And I know 00:31:44.539 --> 00:31:45.620 that I should trust him. 00:31:45.840 --> 00:31:47.039 I know that he's powerful 00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:47.680 enough to do this 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:48.839 but I don't feel this way. 00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:50.920 And the key to that 00:31:50.920 --> 00:31:53.259 is not letting that 00:31:53.259 --> 00:31:54.519 soak in and sit right there 00:31:54.519 --> 00:31:55.940 but rather just taking it 00:31:55.940 --> 00:31:57.079 to Christ in that moment 00:31:57.079 --> 00:31:58.119 of saying, 00:31:58.200 --> 00:32:00.000 God, I know I should trust you. 00:32:00.339 --> 00:32:01.759 I know you are powerful. 00:32:01.859 --> 00:32:02.539 I know you're sovereign. 00:32:02.659 --> 00:32:03.700 You created this whole world 00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:05.099 and this little problem 00:32:05.099 --> 00:32:05.639 that I have 00:32:05.639 --> 00:32:07.079 is really big in my life 00:32:07.079 --> 00:32:07.819 right now 00:32:07.819 --> 00:32:08.480 but I know 00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:09.819 that you can work in it. 00:32:10.139 --> 00:32:11.299 I know that you can solve it. 00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:13.180 And realizing that 00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:14.819 it might not be something 00:32:14.819 --> 00:32:15.960 that he just takes away 00:32:15.960 --> 00:32:16.860 right now. 00:32:17.059 --> 00:32:17.220 You know, 00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:18.900 we look at Paul 00:32:18.900 --> 00:32:20.200 and we see how Paul 00:32:20.200 --> 00:32:21.500 was struggling with this issue 00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:22.039 and he says, 00:32:22.360 --> 00:32:22.660 you know what? 00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:23.920 I've prayed to God 00:32:23.920 --> 00:32:25.160 that he would take it away 00:32:25.160 --> 00:32:25.819 three times 00:32:25.819 --> 00:32:27.400 and he hasn't. 00:32:27.400 --> 00:32:28.840 But I know that he's working it 00:32:28.840 --> 00:32:29.480 for his will 00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:30.259 and for his purpose. 00:32:31.019 --> 00:32:31.740 There's a lot of times 00:32:31.740 --> 00:32:32.220 in our life 00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:33.220 that that's the same way 00:32:33.220 --> 00:32:34.759 where we have things 00:32:34.759 --> 00:32:35.279 in our life 00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:37.160 that are really dominating 00:32:37.160 --> 00:32:37.840 our thoughts 00:32:37.840 --> 00:32:39.720 and we just wish 00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:40.500 that God would just 00:32:40.500 --> 00:32:41.140 take it away. 00:32:41.559 --> 00:32:42.100 We wish that God 00:32:42.100 --> 00:32:42.920 would just remove it 00:32:42.920 --> 00:32:44.400 so I could have peace. 00:32:44.400 --> 00:32:45.780 But the thing is 00:32:45.780 --> 00:32:46.660 that a lot of times 00:32:46.660 --> 00:32:47.940 in those areas 00:32:47.940 --> 00:32:49.960 it causes our hearts 00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:51.000 to turn to Christ 00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:51.780 where we wouldn't 00:32:51.780 --> 00:32:52.780 normally do that. 00:32:53.580 --> 00:32:54.320 And sometimes 00:32:54.320 --> 00:32:56.180 God allows those things 00:32:56.180 --> 00:32:57.080 to stay in our life 00:32:57.080 --> 00:32:58.019 longer than what 00:32:58.019 --> 00:32:58.660 we would like 00:32:58.660 --> 00:32:59.440 for them to stay 00:32:59.440 --> 00:33:01.080 in order that we might 00:33:01.080 --> 00:33:02.340 have a closer relationship 00:33:02.340 --> 00:33:02.900 with him 00:33:02.900 --> 00:33:03.800 through that 00:33:03.800 --> 00:33:05.560 and by taking it to him 00:33:05.560 --> 00:33:06.620 and by depending 00:33:06.620 --> 00:33:07.980 on him 00:33:07.980 --> 00:33:09.060 for his strength 00:33:09.060 --> 00:33:09.560 through that. 00:33:10.360 --> 00:33:11.120 And so I want to 00:33:11.119 --> 00:33:11.919 encourage you 00:33:11.919 --> 00:33:13.299 today that 00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:14.299 Jesus Christ 00:33:14.299 --> 00:33:15.299 is the victor. 00:33:15.539 --> 00:33:16.679 That we have 00:33:16.679 --> 00:33:17.479 peace with God 00:33:17.479 --> 00:33:18.299 which is the most 00:33:18.299 --> 00:33:19.019 important thing 00:33:19.019 --> 00:33:19.479 in the world 00:33:19.479 --> 00:33:21.000 but that we can also 00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:21.959 not only just have 00:33:21.959 --> 00:33:22.859 this status of peace 00:33:22.859 --> 00:33:23.339 with God 00:33:23.339 --> 00:33:24.919 but we can experience 00:33:24.919 --> 00:33:26.039 the peace of God 00:33:26.039 --> 00:33:26.599 today 00:33:26.599 --> 00:33:27.519 by resting 00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:28.500 and depending 00:33:28.500 --> 00:33:29.059 on him. 00:33:29.879 --> 00:33:31.079 And as the season 00:33:31.079 --> 00:33:31.519 of Advent 00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:32.299 as we talked about 00:33:32.299 --> 00:33:32.779 at the beginning 00:33:32.779 --> 00:33:34.339 we see that 00:33:34.339 --> 00:33:35.139 Jesus Christ 00:33:35.139 --> 00:33:35.599 has come 00:33:35.599 --> 00:33:36.339 we see that 00:33:36.339 --> 00:33:37.739 the peace 00:33:37.739 --> 00:33:38.279 is here 00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:39.179 but that the peace 00:33:39.179 --> 00:33:40.199 that we experience 00:33:40.200 --> 00:33:41.500 now is even just 00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:42.759 a small portion 00:33:42.759 --> 00:33:43.779 of what we will 00:33:43.779 --> 00:33:44.400 experience 00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:46.100 when his kingdom 00:33:46.100 --> 00:33:47.279 finally arrives 00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:48.220 here on earth. 00:33:48.259 --> 00:33:48.960 And I want to 00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:50.440 close with this 00:33:50.440 --> 00:33:52.000 amazing prophecy 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:53.400 that Isaiah says 00:33:53.400 --> 00:33:54.940 in Isaiah 9 00:33:54.940 --> 00:33:56.220 and he says 00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:57.559 and he will be called 00:33:57.559 --> 00:33:58.559 speaking of Jesus 00:33:58.559 --> 00:34:00.460 wonderful counselor 00:34:00.460 --> 00:34:01.840 mighty God 00:34:01.840 --> 00:34:03.600 everlasting father 00:34:03.600 --> 00:34:04.840 the prince 00:34:04.840 --> 00:34:06.039 of peace 00:34:06.039 --> 00:34:07.759 of the increase 00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:08.559 of his government 00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:09.679 and of peace 00:34:09.679 --> 00:34:10.739 there will be 00:34:10.739 --> 00:34:11.719 no end. 00:34:12.500 --> 00:34:13.940 So in our lives 00:34:13.940 --> 00:34:14.279 today 00:34:14.279 --> 00:34:15.639 we can experience 00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:16.019 peace 00:34:16.019 --> 00:34:17.219 but we ultimately 00:34:17.219 --> 00:34:18.380 look forward 00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:19.579 to the future 00:34:19.579 --> 00:34:20.759 of Christ's kingdom 00:34:20.759 --> 00:34:21.480 and knowing 00:34:21.480 --> 00:34:22.159 that Christ 00:34:22.159 --> 00:34:22.880 will win 00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:24.019 that this verse 00:34:24.019 --> 00:34:24.559 at the end 00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:25.340 of John 14 00:34:25.340 --> 00:34:25.880 is true 00:34:25.880 --> 00:34:26.559 that the enemy 00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:27.519 will ultimately 00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:28.239 be defeated 00:34:28.239 --> 00:34:29.460 and that Christ 00:34:29.460 --> 00:34:30.179 will rule 00:34:30.179 --> 00:34:31.360 and reign on earth 00:34:31.360 --> 00:34:32.139 and we will be 00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:32.679 with him 00:34:32.679 --> 00:34:33.779 for all 00:34:33.779 --> 00:34:34.820 eternity. 00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:36.460 May we rest 00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:37.519 in that truth 00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:37.980 today. 00:34:38.900 --> 00:34:39.400 Let's pray. 00:34:39.400 --> 00:34:39.420 Let's pray.