WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.379 Good evening to you all. 00:00:07.080 --> 00:00:12.060 I could break out and sing to you if you wanted up here, but maybe not. 00:00:13.259 --> 00:00:21.199 Okay, Steve has actually mentioned that we're on to the second last week of looking at Philippians. 00:00:21.640 --> 00:00:29.900 It's our commitment series and we are seriously wanting to be the church that God wants us to be. 00:00:30.519 --> 00:00:40.359 In every aspect of Christian living, we have been asking the Lord to transform us for his glory. 00:00:41.340 --> 00:00:45.320 We also want this church to be a beacon. 00:00:45.980 --> 00:00:47.659 We want it to shine Jesus. 00:00:47.659 --> 00:00:53.600 We want it to shine so that those who do not know Jesus will be drawn to Jesus. 00:00:54.579 --> 00:01:02.420 And last week, as we were reminded, we were encouraged to press on to the goal of salvation. 00:01:02.420 --> 00:01:14.700 And with the genuine love that Paul shows here to the Philippians, he uses words of endearment as he shares with them. 00:01:15.379 --> 00:01:19.599 He gives this final appeal that we've just read. 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:28.339 And looking at the passage, we see the reality of what church can look like sometimes. 00:01:29.219 --> 00:01:33.939 In this passage, we see there's individuals fighting over issues. 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:41.659 We see that there's individuals getting anxious and individuals filling their hearts and minds with some rubbish. 00:01:41.659 --> 00:01:48.819 And all of a sudden, we can be found wanting as the church. 00:01:48.819 --> 00:02:00.899 And yet, I think that we can take heart because right in the middle of these verses, in verse 5, we see the Lord is near. 00:02:00.900 --> 00:02:10.759 And yet, with all that is said by Paul, he reminds us the Lord is near and we are not alone. 00:02:11.340 --> 00:02:14.340 There is a future because the Lord is near. 00:02:14.819 --> 00:02:19.120 There is a hope of change because the Lord is near. 00:02:19.480 --> 00:02:22.700 And last week, we saw that there is a prize. 00:02:22.960 --> 00:02:27.200 The prize is heavenward because the Lord is near. 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:34.299 And so, with confidence, we can look at this passage because the Lord is near. 00:02:34.739 --> 00:02:40.739 Because he can change us and transform us into the people of God that he's calling us to be. 00:02:41.579 --> 00:02:45.339 Now, I've broken this into three sections on peace. 00:02:45.939 --> 00:02:47.359 Peace with one another. 00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:49.780 Peace within ourselves. 00:02:50.120 --> 00:02:51.560 And peace with God. 00:02:51.560 --> 00:03:21.539 Peace with one another. 00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:51.539 Peace with one another. 00:03:51.560 --> 00:03:54.159 We always get along with each other, don't we? 00:03:57.159 --> 00:04:00.740 You know, 10 o'clock and 5.30 service chuckled at that. 00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:04.520 The 8.30 people just didn't chuckle. 00:04:06.580 --> 00:04:09.860 But the thing is, of course, that is wrong. 00:04:10.219 --> 00:04:11.360 That is wrong, isn't it? 00:04:11.460 --> 00:04:13.920 Because we do agree at times. 00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:22.879 Even though we're all Christians and we're all wanting to serve the Lord, there are times that we disagree. 00:04:23.099 --> 00:04:31.099 Now, there's a wide diversity of thought that should not surprise us when you have a lot of different people in a church. 00:04:31.100 --> 00:04:32.100 There's great diversity. 00:04:32.100 --> 00:04:32.740 There's great diversity. 00:04:32.740 --> 00:04:35.860 And people have opinions on almost everything. 00:04:35.860 --> 00:04:43.199 But the question is, what do we do with the diversity that we have in churches? 00:04:44.040 --> 00:04:46.620 Do you allow it to cripple you? 00:04:46.620 --> 00:04:54.620 Do you say, we're so diverse, we'll never agree, so therefore we won't do anything? 00:04:54.620 --> 00:05:03.819 Or do you move forward prayerfully, realising that sometimes some people won't ever agree with you? 00:05:04.660 --> 00:05:08.699 What course do you actually take when that actually happens? 00:05:08.699 --> 00:05:13.459 Now, you mustn't misunderstand me. 00:05:13.639 --> 00:05:19.019 There are biblical truths that we will stand really, really firm for here at St. Paul's. 00:05:19.979 --> 00:05:27.039 And that we won't entertain debate and let's agree to disagree sort of stuff. 00:05:28.039 --> 00:05:30.279 Those things are about the gospel. 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:32.680 The gospel is the gospel. 00:05:33.300 --> 00:05:34.699 And there is no other. 00:05:34.699 --> 00:05:36.019 Jesus is Lord. 00:05:36.899 --> 00:05:38.480 And we need a saviour. 00:05:38.699 --> 00:05:39.719 Jesus died. 00:05:39.879 --> 00:05:40.459 He rose. 00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:41.360 He's in heaven. 00:05:41.500 --> 00:05:42.319 He will return. 00:05:42.500 --> 00:05:43.839 And he will judge the earth. 00:05:44.899 --> 00:05:45.680 Judge the world. 00:05:47.180 --> 00:05:52.060 But not all disputes are actual gospel issues. 00:05:53.219 --> 00:05:55.759 They don't have a gospel value to them. 00:05:56.819 --> 00:06:02.360 So let's look at the text and read what Paul says in Philippians verses 2 and 3. 00:06:02.360 --> 00:06:02.719 It says, 00:06:02.860 --> 00:06:08.360 I plead with you, Odea, and I plead with Syntyca, to agree with each other in the Lord. 00:06:08.360 --> 00:06:22.060 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yoke fellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the course of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. 00:06:22.060 --> 00:06:36.259 Here were two women, both of them, really committed Christians, who have worked side by side with the apostle Paul and who have had a disagreement and we don't even know what the disagreement is about. 00:06:36.259 --> 00:06:50.060 Now, this letter that we've been looking at in Philippians, it's a letter to the church in Philippi and in it Paul deals with some really tough issues. 00:06:50.060 --> 00:07:05.000 So why on earth do you think, in the midst of such important issues, Paul sticks something so personal about two ladies who were having a fight in the congregation? 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:14.660 Now, shouldn't he have tried to maybe solve this little problem quietly and on the side? 00:07:15.660 --> 00:07:20.660 Shouldn't he have sort of not brought it to everybody's attention? 00:07:20.660 --> 00:07:33.260 Because really, 2,000 years down the track, it's written and millions of people have read about these two women and they've been named about this argument that they've been having. 00:07:33.259 --> 00:07:47.259 Well, maybe it's just because it's important that the church communicates to the world that we deal with conflict in a different way to what the world deals with it. 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:54.939 We're able to find common ground and agree to work in harmony with one another. 00:07:57.459 --> 00:08:01.139 Notice what Paul does and what he doesn't do in this. 00:08:01.139 --> 00:08:02.919 First of all, he doesn't take sides. 00:08:03.060 --> 00:08:06.180 He doesn't say, Sintica is right and Euodia is wrong. 00:08:07.039 --> 00:08:09.019 And secondly, he doesn't pull rank. 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:17.159 He doesn't say, listen, I'm the Apostle Paul and therefore I say that if you two don't agree, then both of you are out. 00:08:17.279 --> 00:08:18.339 He doesn't say that. 00:08:19.300 --> 00:08:25.919 Instead, he encourages them to find some common ground where they can agree. 00:08:25.920 --> 00:08:32.519 He says, I plead with you to agree with each other in the Lord. 00:08:33.940 --> 00:08:37.779 Do you remember what Paul wrote in Romans 12, 18? 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:48.560 There he says, if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, so there's some responsibility for the individual, live at peace with everyone. 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:51.959 And there's something else that Paul does. 00:08:52.379 --> 00:08:57.619 He appoints a third party to intervene and he's called loyal yoke fella. 00:08:59.059 --> 00:09:01.000 We don't know who he was. 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:03.779 Some commentaries say that it might be Luke. 00:09:04.359 --> 00:09:06.859 But whoever he was, he was a peacemaker. 00:09:07.719 --> 00:09:14.000 And Jesus said, blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God. 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:26.480 Now, there's been a number of occasions over the 16 years that I have been at this church whereby I have mediated between a couple of people. 00:09:27.139 --> 00:09:36.840 Not a lot, but there's been a few scenarios whereby I could actually sit and we listen to both sides of the story and we find a common ground and we move forward. 00:09:36.840 --> 00:09:54.240 But there's also been some times where I have been mediated against, mediated, whereby I have foolishly said something that has offended somebody and we have needed a third person to come in and talk something through. 00:09:55.300 --> 00:10:01.740 Now, I can say sitting in a conversation where it's been mediated can be very embarrassing. 00:10:02.360 --> 00:10:03.840 It can be very humbling. 00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:10.040 It does cause one to have to confess a sin to others. 00:10:10.560 --> 00:10:14.860 But I have to say they have been real growth moments for me. 00:10:15.560 --> 00:10:17.759 They've not happened often, but they have happened. 00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:20.379 And that is what is happening here. 00:10:21.259 --> 00:10:23.560 There's a growth opportunity that is happening. 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:29.340 It's tough, but it's helpful and it's necessary for a church to move forward. 00:10:29.340 --> 00:10:33.820 Because if those issues are not dealt with, they can divide a church. 00:10:34.860 --> 00:10:41.680 And there is nothing more that Satan would love to do than to divide a church. 00:10:42.060 --> 00:10:51.440 Because if he can do that, then he can so cripple the church that it won't be effective in getting the message of Jesus out to anybody. 00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:56.400 Because we're also focused about looking inward and at our own issues. 00:10:57.520 --> 00:11:13.140 So it's important for each of us to pledge to each other and to God that we'll allow ourselves, that we will not allow ourselves to be pawns of Satan to divide his church. 00:11:13.139 --> 00:11:26.679 As we serve God together, we need to choose to be at peace with one another and always be resolving any conflict that may arise, be it ever so little. 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:31.600 Secondly, Paul tells us about peace within. 00:11:32.779 --> 00:11:33.899 Listen to verse 4. 00:11:34.419 --> 00:11:35.980 Rejoice in the Lord always. 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:37.299 I will say it again. 00:11:37.399 --> 00:11:38.019 Rejoice. 00:11:38.379 --> 00:11:40.679 Let your gentleness be evident to all. 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:42.439 The Lord is near. 00:11:42.440 --> 00:11:52.140 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:59.300 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:12:00.800 --> 00:12:05.480 Now, I don't know how you felt when you came to church this evening. 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:12.040 But sometimes we feel on top of the world and we have no cares in the world whatsoever. 00:12:12.039 --> 00:12:14.240 And everything is going our way. 00:12:15.079 --> 00:12:19.279 But a good deal of the time, we don't actually feel that way at all. 00:12:19.779 --> 00:12:24.579 Sometimes we come to church and we're feeling pretty down. 00:12:24.580 --> 00:12:28.440 Sometimes you can be carrying a heavy burden. 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:30.460 Maybe you're worried about something. 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:35.379 Maybe there's a problem in your life that just doesn't seem to go away. 00:12:35.940 --> 00:12:41.460 Maybe you feel guilty about some sin that you have committed and you are working out the consequences of that. 00:12:42.280 --> 00:12:46.700 Maybe you're concerned about finances or your exams, as we heard before. 00:12:46.700 --> 00:12:53.640 Maybe you're frustrated because you're trying to get something accomplished that you just can't seem to get it done. 00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:58.259 Whatever the reason, God has us all here tonight. 00:12:59.060 --> 00:13:07.540 And I think Paul's words are directed at each and every one of us who are carrying any burden whatsoever. 00:13:07.539 --> 00:13:11.360 Picture a massive hurricane. 00:13:11.899 --> 00:13:14.219 A storm with cyclonic winds. 00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:18.159 Rain, thunder and lightning usually accompany the winds. 00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:27.299 And hurricanes can be very fierce as storms with the relentless pounding winds that continue hour after hour after hour. 00:13:27.299 --> 00:13:34.039 But the fascinating thing about a hurricane is the eye of the hurricane. 00:13:34.359 --> 00:13:36.899 And you may have seen movies of this, of which I have. 00:13:37.359 --> 00:13:44.359 But in the middle of the hurricane, where the eye is, there is perfect calm in the centre. 00:13:45.199 --> 00:13:50.000 And there's always those characters who are racing off to get into the eye of the hurricane. 00:13:50.659 --> 00:13:51.839 Madmen, but in any case. 00:13:51.840 --> 00:14:00.180 And once they're in the eye of the hurricane, there's still wind and turmoil and everything is happening around them. 00:14:00.460 --> 00:14:02.560 But there's peace and calm right in the middle. 00:14:03.340 --> 00:14:11.420 Well, the same can be for us in the storms of our life if, in fact, Jesus is at the centre. 00:14:13.220 --> 00:14:18.960 You see, there can be calm and peace even in the darkest of life's storms. 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:22.860 It doesn't mean that life is always peaceful. 00:14:23.639 --> 00:14:30.080 It just means that we're centred on Jesus in amongst the storm that actually happens. 00:14:31.040 --> 00:14:38.560 And we need to realise, as Steve was saying, we need to realise that Paul writes this letter. 00:14:39.379 --> 00:14:42.620 He's not sitting in some ivory tower writing this letter. 00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:51.720 He, in fact, is in jail and he is waiting for trial and he, in fact, might be executed. 00:14:52.500 --> 00:14:57.320 But in these verses, Paul writes a formula for developing peace within. 00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:06.740 He says, do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:11.419 In other words, don't worry and let God handle it. 00:15:11.419 --> 00:15:21.599 Now, Paul encourages us to pray rather than thinking, getting anxious. 00:15:22.479 --> 00:15:24.959 Now, we often think that we have to pray. 00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:30.179 I've often had people say, you know, sort of, I haven't prayed and, you know, I better pray. 00:15:30.419 --> 00:15:34.240 And it's sort of like a duty that we've got to do. 00:15:34.719 --> 00:15:39.219 But in actual fact, prayer is a privilege that we get to do. 00:15:39.220 --> 00:15:46.620 And I'm sort of thinking that I need to change my attitude towards prayer. 00:15:47.139 --> 00:15:51.740 That it's a privilege that we get to do, not a duty that we have to do. 00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:56.100 See, God's cure for worry is always the same. 00:15:56.700 --> 00:15:59.000 It's always going to be prayer. 00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:02.220 His way is always action. 00:16:02.220 --> 00:16:07.759 And that action is making everything known to him. 00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:11.160 God will not be surprised by what you pray. 00:16:11.500 --> 00:16:18.399 He's not going to, when I sit down and pray and let God know all the things that are concerning me, 00:16:18.740 --> 00:16:22.660 he's not going to suddenly say, oh my goodness, Debbie Gould's in a mess. 00:16:22.740 --> 00:16:24.360 I didn't know that was happening. 00:16:24.860 --> 00:16:30.320 He's not going to say that because he already knows absolutely everything that is going on in our lives. 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:35.600 But God's desire is for us to hand it over to him. 00:16:36.800 --> 00:16:43.680 It's an action of taking the privilege of prayer and handing it, all of our cares and concerns, 00:16:43.800 --> 00:16:46.920 over to the Lord of which he already knows what's distressing us. 00:16:47.140 --> 00:16:50.700 And that we are not putting him at the centre of our life. 00:16:51.660 --> 00:16:52.800 Why do we pray? 00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:56.340 Well, we pray because the Lord is near, as the verse said. 00:16:56.340 --> 00:17:01.280 Because the Lord is near, we need not be anxious for anything. 00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:05.340 And because he's near, we have peace within. 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:09.180 A deep, abiding peace that passes all understanding. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:15.140 Because the Lord is near, a wellspring of joy fills every part of our lives. 00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:21.759 And because the Lord is near, our hearts and our minds are renewed and restored in Christ Jesus. 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:28.299 And with that restoration, we become once again fresh, vibrant and alive. 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:34.359 Now let me just say, as an addition, that is not always easy. 00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:42.160 I was picked up just this afternoon in expressing something that concerned me. 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:50.779 And a person who was in this morning's service reminded me to listen to my own message. 00:17:52.320 --> 00:17:55.019 So it is not easy necessarily. 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:58.900 So we need each other to encourage each other. 00:17:59.860 --> 00:18:00.960 Pick each other up. 00:18:01.180 --> 00:18:06.519 When we start to see one of our brothers or sisters getting anxious and worried, 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:09.240 we ask, are you praying? 00:18:09.940 --> 00:18:12.460 Are you submitting this to the Lord? 00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:14.400 That's why we have each other. 00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:16.480 We have each other to encourage each other. 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:20.960 And that is what a friend of mine did this afternoon on the phone. 00:18:21.700 --> 00:18:24.160 She said, Debbie, you are not even listening to you. 00:18:24.200 --> 00:18:27.519 It's only a few hours since you preached a message. 00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:30.259 Listen to your own message. 00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:32.220 And she was right. 00:18:32.220 --> 00:18:39.299 When we come to church, we can mouth all the things that say, you know, 00:18:39.380 --> 00:18:43.339 crown him with many crowns and he's Lord of lords and King of kings. 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:46.860 But sometimes we can actually come to church. 00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:49.259 And I obviously did a similar thing today. 00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:54.880 We can come to church, put our burdens aside for the little hour that we're in here. 00:18:54.880 --> 00:19:00.960 And when we leave this church and go home, we pick up all the burdens that we had put down 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:05.180 and we put them back on our shoulders and continue worrying for the rest of the week. 00:19:05.620 --> 00:19:08.460 That is not what life is meant to be. 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:17.940 We're meant to give them over to Jesus at the foot of the cross and pray for his sustaining in our everyday life. 00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:22.500 In Ephesians 3.16, it says, 00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:39.980 Paul is saying that even while we're wasting away on the outside, if we're Christians, we're being strengthened and changed on the inside. 00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:46.940 And in Matthew 6, you might like to go home and read Matthew 6 because Matthew 6 talks a lot about worry. 00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:50.740 The Bible actually talks a whole heap about worry and anxiety. 00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:56.480 And that is because we basically fail at it quite frequently. 00:19:57.400 --> 00:20:00.360 Otherwise, scripture wouldn't need to actually be addressing it. 00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:07.079 But Matthew 6 is where you need to look up what Jesus says about worry also. 00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:12.899 But worry is also assuming responsibility that God never, ever intended us to have. 00:20:13.919 --> 00:20:16.460 He will carry the burdens for us. 00:20:16.939 --> 00:20:19.519 We need to turn our worries over to him. 00:20:19.579 --> 00:20:23.980 It's a really simple little thing, and yet we are so slow to follow it through. 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:27.220 1 Peter 5.7 says, 00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:30.720 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 00:20:32.179 --> 00:20:35.000 And finally, Paul mentions peace with God. 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:44.039 In verses 8 and 9, we need to read these verses often because this is what he says. 00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:53.579 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, 00:20:53.579 --> 00:21:05.379 if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things, whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me, put it into practice, 00:21:05.879 --> 00:21:07.939 and the God of peace will be with you. 00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:11.500 Now, Paul is saying, here are eight filters. 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:18.339 Everything you hear, everything you see needs to pass through these eight filters. 00:21:18.339 --> 00:21:25.359 And if it doesn't, make it through the eight filters, then it shouldn't be in your mind and certainly don't let it into your heart. 00:21:26.919 --> 00:21:35.679 Now, there is so much garbage in the world, and the old saying that that is garbage in, garbage out is absolutely true. 00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:40.199 Whatever we take on board is what will come out at some stage. 00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:42.720 So we need to think about these things. 00:21:42.840 --> 00:21:45.259 We need to think about the movies that we watch. 00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:50.759 We need to think about the television programs that we watch. 00:21:51.860 --> 00:21:57.980 We need to think about the music we listen to, our conversations, our attitudes, 00:21:58.700 --> 00:22:01.080 what passes over our computer, 00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:06.480 the bulk emails that get passed from computer to computer, 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:10.980 those spam things that happen, and everyone thinks this is fantastic and funny, 00:22:11.099 --> 00:22:15.799 and there's, you know, a little sort of other message happening. 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:18.299 We need to think about all of those things. 00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:21.839 Do they pass through the eight filters? 00:22:22.299 --> 00:22:25.019 Because Paul says, put everything through these eight filters. 00:22:25.319 --> 00:22:28.019 If it's not true, then don't welcome it. 00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:31.839 If it's not noble, if it's not right, 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:36.599 or pure, or lovely, or admirable, or excellent, or praiseworthy, 00:22:36.899 --> 00:22:39.740 don't let it find a home in your heart. 00:22:40.699 --> 00:22:41.759 And the verse says, 00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:45.299 if you use these filters, you'll have peace with God. 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:52.319 There is a direct correlation between taking action and having peace with God. 00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:55.139 Praying and having peace with God. 00:22:55.699 --> 00:23:00.019 Putting everything we do through filters, we have peace with God. 00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:02.819 There's a responsibility on our behalf. 00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:05.960 Jesus says, 00:23:06.660 --> 00:23:10.740 I've told you these things, though, that in me you may have peace. 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:13.420 In this world you will have trouble. 00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:17.579 But take heart, I have overcome the world. 00:23:18.900 --> 00:23:21.779 Now, do you remember what Jesus said to his disciples 00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:25.940 when they were up in the upper room after Jesus' resurrection? 00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:28.160 The disciples are there. 00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:30.160 They're fearful for their own lives. 00:23:30.820 --> 00:23:31.880 Their leader was dead. 00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:34.420 And their future is uncertain. 00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:37.580 And just then Jesus appears. 00:23:37.740 --> 00:23:39.460 He's come through the locked doors. 00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:41.000 And he speaks to them. 00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:42.240 And what does he say? 00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:45.740 Well, Max Licato puts it this way. 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:49.759 The betrayed sought the betrayers. 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:51.720 And what did he say to them? 00:23:51.879 --> 00:23:54.640 Not, what a bunch of fools you are. 00:23:55.619 --> 00:23:58.039 Not, I told you so. 00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:03.039 And there was no, where were you when I needed you? 00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:04.660 Sort of speech. 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:09.440 No, his first words were just one simple phrase. 00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:12.119 Peace be with you. 00:24:12.119 --> 00:24:18.799 The very thing that they did not have was the very thing that Jesus offers. 00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:21.179 He offers peace. 00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:26.259 And he still offers peace to each and every one of us today. 00:24:27.239 --> 00:24:29.599 And finally, Paul says in verse 9, 00:24:29.979 --> 00:24:34.019 whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me, 00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:35.500 put into practice. 00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:38.059 And the God of peace will be with you. 00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:39.559 It's another action. 00:24:40.439 --> 00:24:42.079 And peace will be with you. 00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:44.979 What's he saying? 00:24:45.079 --> 00:24:47.399 He's saying take scripture seriously. 00:24:48.239 --> 00:24:51.619 Learn from it and apply it, what you have learned. 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:56.619 And in doing so, the God of peace will be with you. 00:24:57.879 --> 00:24:58.779 Do you have it? 00:24:59.319 --> 00:25:03.619 Did you come to church tonight with it? 00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:08.539 Or did you find yourself carrying burdens that were too heavy to carry? 00:25:08.539 --> 00:25:13.420 Are you going to leave here with the burdens still on your back? 00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:17.579 Or are you going to turn them over to Jesus? 00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:25.279 You see, I know one who died on a cross for each and every one of us and for our sins. 00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:32.679 I know one who shed his precious blood that we can have everlasting life. 00:25:33.439 --> 00:25:36.839 He is the one who is near today. 00:25:37.399 --> 00:25:40.500 And he is the one called Jesus Christ. 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:41.440 Amen. 00:25:43.380 --> 00:25:44.259 Amen. 00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:45.500 Amen. 00:25:46.099 --> 00:25:46.619 Amen. 00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:48.619 Amen. 00:25:48.759 --> 00:25:50.059 Amen. 00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:50.680 Amen. 00:25:50.759 --> 00:26:03.960 Amen. 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:06.240 Amen. 00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:06.599 Amen. 00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:07.599 Amen. 00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:08.519 Amen. 00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:09.420 Amen.