Okay, so if you look at John chapter 14 and verse number 1 it starts off by saying again the words of Jesus Christ
Let not your heart be troubled you believe in God believe also in me
You see Jesus Christ knows that as as as Christians as as believers
Even though we are saved we can be people that have our hearts troubled, you know, we're going through some difficult times
It's very easy, you know, it's just part of our our makeup
You know that we can be easily troubled and so John chapter 14 is written
Primarily so we can be comforted in a time of trouble now don't turn away from them going to read to you from Galatians
522 it says but the fruits of the Spirit is love
Joy, and the third one on the list is peace
And so what I'll be preaching about today brethren or tonight is on the fruit of the spirit of peace
Peace as a fruit of the Spirit then it says long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness
Temperance against such there is no law. So I'm continuing the fruit of the Spirit series and we're up to part three on
Peace and so obviously if you are being troubled, what is it that you need from the Lord?
What is it that you really desire from the Lord? You want Pete you want peace, don't you?
You'd rather live a life of peace then live a life where you're troubled where you're worried
Where you're concerned but Jesus Christ acknowledges that we are going to have times
That we that we are troubled now drop down to verse number 25 in the same chapter John 14 25
Jesus Christ says these things have I spoken unto you being yet present with you
but the comforter which is the Holy Ghost and
So you can see that one of the names or one of the titles of the Holy Ghost is the comforter
Why would we need a comforter? Well, we need the comforter when we're troubled, right?
We need a comforter when we're concerned and worried and of course if we have someone to comfort us
That's going to bring peace, you know, we'll be able to have peace in a time of trouble
It keeps going it says whom the Father will send in my name
He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance
Whatsoever have said unto you then look at the words of Jesus Christ is the verse number 27 peace
I leave with you my peace. I give unto you
And so what is this piece that Jesus Christ is saying that he's left us?
What is this piece that Jesus Christ says gonna give us? Well, it's the comforter. It's the Holy Ghost
Okay, if we don't separate it from what Christ just said and then he says these words not as the world giveth
So can the world give peace?
Well, it says not as the world giveth. So the world can give a type of peace
Okay, I mean isn't the world always given out the Nobel Peace Prize. I don't know how often is that Peace Prize given?
Okay, and yet there isn't peace in this world, you know, the world is often trying to you know
Find peace in different places in the world
There's never going to be a time of peace brethren until Jesus Christ comes back and establishes his kingdom
All right, but there is a what there is a peace that the world tries to give you
But Jesus Christ is not I'm going to leave you I'm going to give you my peace
This peace is not like what the word giveth then it says give I unto you let not your heart be troubled
Neither let it be afraid
All right, so when we think about the topic of peace and we think about what is the opposite of peace I
Think most often when you think about what the opposite of peace is. It's generally going to generally kind of think of war
You know kind of you know, when we're not in a time of war we'll say it's a time of peace
And yeah, you know warfare these conflicts of that nature can be the opposite of peace
But you know what? We're called to actually fight a war, you know
We're soldiers for the Lord. We're fighting a spiritual warfare
You're not going to find peace in the spiritual warfare at this point in time
But there is a different type of peace that Jesus Christ speaks of and that's to help us overcome being troubled
Help us overcome fear, right? Neither. Let it be afraid right net
Let not your heart be troubled neither
Let it be afraid and so when Christ speaks about this piece that it gives us it's to help us overcome trouble
It's to help us overcome fear. All right, so if you're going through a time of trouble if you're going through fears
What you need is the peace of Jesus Christ
Okay, not as the world giver if you don't want to be seeking the world's peace. Okay to come for your heart
No, you need to seek it from what Christ has left us, which is the Holy Ghost, which is the comforter
And so this is why it's called the fruit of the Spirit. Okay, because the Spirit is the Holy Ghost
Okay, and this is something that the Holy Ghost can produce in our lives and you know
We ought to be known as people that are peaceful, you know, we ought not to be known as people that are troubled
We ought not to be known as people that are afraid. We ought to be known as people that have the peace of God in us
Okay. Now, can you please turn to John chapter 16 just two chapters forward John chapter 16 and
verse number 33
John chapter 16 and verse number 33
Like I said, you know some people think of peace as you know, no warfare, you know, like there's no difficulties
But that is not the Christian life
Okay, and in John 16 verse 33
It says these things have I spoken unto you that in me you might have peace
I mean those are beautiful words of Jesus
He says look if you're in me, you know, if you're someone that is saved if you have Christ as Savior
He says look you will have peace
And go out. We're not going to go through difficulties
We're not going to go through trials, but look what he says straight after in the world. Ye shall have
Tribulation hold on Jesus. You just told us in you we can have peace and now you're telling me
We're definitely gonna have tribulation. Which one is it Jesus? It's both
Okay, it's both we can go through tribulation and be at peace
Going through tribulation. Okay, then he says this but be of good cheer
I have overcome the world. Okay be of good cheer
I have overcome the world and so I don't know if I brought I think I mentioned this before it was this church or
New Life Baptist Church, but I said that when we fight our spiritual warfare
We don't fight for victory. Okay, we fight from victory
Jesus Christ has already been victorious
Jesus Christ has already overcome the world and if we're in Christ we too have overcome the world
Okay, when we go through tribulations and hardships and fears Christ has already overcome those things
That's why we can be at peace
Okay, you know if I were to you know, maybe have my life
Threatened I would I should be at peace now will my heart be troubled to some extent
Yeah, I mean Christ even talks about you know that there are times that we're gonna be troubled
But that's why he's given us the Holy Ghost to give us comfort to give us peace
Okay, but if I even if I were to lose my life listen as soon as I open my eyes, I'm gonna be in heaven
You know, I know what my eternal destination is no matter what happens
Okay, and that ought to be the peace that that you know that ought to be the peace that we have right or if we're
Going through difficulties and and you know, there might be some concerns our way
We ought to have the peace to know that God is allowing us to go through that tribulation for his purpose
Whatever that purpose is. All right, and it is tribulation
It is hardships that help you grow and mature as a Christian
You know, if you have no hardships if you have no persecution I guarantee this you're going to stay as a babe in Christ
You're not going to be able to exercise the things that God has it has has given us
Instructed us to live by if you don't go through some level of difficulty. Okay, it's difficulties
It's tribulations that helps us to grow its tribulations
It's difficulties that help us draw back to the Lord as a refuge in a place of safety and for peace
Okay, so it's it's it's tribulation that we need to experience
Jesus Christ promised us we're going to experience that but we can still have the peace of God as we go through it
Now, can you please turn to Galatians chapter 6 for me Galatians chapter 6 verse 15?
Galatians chapter 6 verse 15 and
While you're turning there, I'm going to read to you from Romans 14 17 you go to Galatians 6
I'm going to read to you from Romans 14 17
it says for the kingdom of God is not
meat and drink, but
righteousness and
peace and
Joy in the Holy Ghost, okay
Righteousness, peace joy
This is the kingdom of God and if you're saved you've entered into that kingdom spiritually speaking
You know one day that kingdoms gonna be fully realized when Christ comes back
Okay, but for now it's a spiritual kingdom that when you are saved you answer that kingdom spiritually speaking
Okay, but within that kingdom is righteousness peace and joy
Hey, those are free fruits of the Spirit right there
You've got the joy which I've covered last time you got the peace and the righteousness is another way of saying goodness goodness is
One of the fruits of the Spirit that we see in Galatians chapter 5 and so again, where are these things?
In the Holy Ghost
Notice the consistency of the Bible we find these fruits
Okay to help us go through difficult times in the Holy Ghost the comforter which Jesus Christ has given us
The point being is that to develop peace in our lives. We have to be in touch with the Holy Ghost
We have to allow him to work this fruit in our lives
We cannot be living a life that that resistors or resist or or quenches the Holy Ghost in our lives
We need to be attuned to what the Holy Ghost is teaching us
How is working in us in order for this fruits to be produced?
Okay, if you withhold if you if you try to
you know
Resist the Holy Ghost this fruit is not going to develop in your life
Okay, so you can see that it's it ties in with what the Holy Ghost does in our lives now
You're in Galatians 6 verse number 15
Galatians 6 verse 15. It says for in
Christ Jesus so that's if you're saved if you're in Christ neither circumcision available if anything nor
Uncircumcision but a new creature now again, what is that new creature?
Can you see that new creature on the outward?
No, it's the same flesh
You know
I still have the same flesh
That I had when I was unsaved and then when I got saved I still have the same flesh
You know, I still have those lusts of the flesh. I still have those things that is flesh desires to do
Okay, that's not the new man. The new man is the born-again spirits
Okay, the the new spirit that you have within you how is that spirit born again? It's born of the spirit, right?
It's born of the Holy Ghost and then it says this verse number 16 and as many as walk according to this rule
Peace be on them and mercy and upon the Israel of God
peace be upon who
Muhammad
Muslims say, you know every time so they talk about their prophet, you know, peace be upon them
Peace be upon them that are in Christ Jesus
so the only way for you to have true peace is
if you're saved if you're in Christ if you have that new creature that new creature will be at peace and
When you're troubled and you're this, you know, worried and upset that's the flesh
Okay, and so you have this decision to make do I walk after the spirit which actually has this peace that can be produced in
My life or do I seek after the flesh the old man the old creature. That's where the troubles are
That's where the worries are
No, we need to seek to be in the new man, you know put on the new man and put off that old man
You know crucify or mortify that flesh that's how we're going to develop the peace that we have within us
I'm going to read to you from
Romans chapter 10 verse number 15 and if you can please go to Ephesians chapter 2 go to Ephesians chapter 2
I'm going to read to you from Romans 10 15
Very familiar passage. I've preached on this a few times already recently
It says and how shall they preach except they be sent as it is written
How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of?
peace
Right and bring glad tidings of good things
So what is it that brings peace in the life of people? It's the gospel. Okay
It's the reconciliation between God and man when someone believes on Christ and and his blood
Has atone for our sin and we receive the righteousness of Christ and we can stand before God in the righteousness of Jesus Christ
That's what brings peace between God and man
Okay, and so as I said, you know our position before God is a place of peace. We are at peace with God
I die brethren. I'm gonna stand before God
That's that's the peace that you know that this world wants
Even though they're so prideful to think that they can get it some other way by good works or what?
You know everybody can who it is. Everyone thinks what's gonna happen to me after I die
Do I have a peace when I die, you know when someone passes away we often say hey rest in peace
But most often they're not they're not resting at all most often not this this they screaming in the torment of hell
But if I believe a passes away, hey truly that person can rest in peace. Okay, because he's made peace with God Ephesians chapter 2 verse 14
Speaking about Jesus for he is our peace
Who have made both one and have broken down the middle wall partition between us
Now this us that is referring to is not between God and man. It's between the Jews and the Gentiles
Okay, because between the Jews and the Gentiles there was this division right the nation of Israel were the people of God
That was the the physical nation that God was working through in the Old Testament
And so that automatically created some division with the Gentiles, of course because they were worshiping false gods
But Christ comes right and brings peace between these two groups. Look at verse number 15
Having abolished the flesh in his flesh the enmity even the law of commandments contain ordinances
For to make in himself of twain one new man
so make in peace
Just keep these things in mind right verse 14 say that Jesus is our peace
Now it's saying that Jesus has come make in peace again between these two these two groups
Verses 16 that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross
Having slain the enmity thereby and came and preached peace to you
What's that piece again the gospel of peace, right?
Christ came preach in peace to you which were afar off and to them that were nigh
So the same message of peace the same gospel of preach was preached those that are far off the Gentiles and them that are that
were nigh, you notice that there in verse number 17 it says
and
preached
Peace to you. That's one grip right which were far off
Who is he writing to to the Ephesian Church the Gentiles?
Okay, so the you is are the Ephesians the you are the Gentiles and then it says and to them that's another group
That were nigh. That's the Jews. Okay, the same gospel saves both groups of people
This is what brings peace between the two groups
right
It's crazy how people think that now the Jews get saved some other way. Are you insane?
How do you not see the peace that Jesus Christ came and brought between these two groups
verse number 18 for through him we both have access by one spirit unto the Father
Now therefore ye who are the ye that the Ephesian Church your normal strangers and foreigners
But fellow citizens with the Saints and of the household of God and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets
Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto and
Holy temple in the Lord
So I just wanted to read that passage to you because you can see how many times peace is brought up, right?
Jesus Christ is peace. He's the Prince of Peace. That's one of his names
Okay, not only that he's made peace between the Jews and the Gentiles meaning that if we're all together in Christ
Jesus there ought not to be any division
You know, you might say if nef if this in my ethnicity is Chilean
Right and some people look for peace or companionship and friendship with the same ethnicities
You know, this is this is normal. This is why you know
Fairfield is known as you know, Little Iraq
Okay, because the Assyrians like to just get gathered together. This is why in Cabramatta you got Chinatown
Okay, because because you know, it's mainly Vietnamese and stuff like that
But they they like to be together people are the same ethnicity
Like to come together because they feel that some type of peace some type of connection between them
But that's why I love Church because we're all of different backgrounds
It doesn't matter if we're Jew or Gentile or if you're from Greece or from Italy or from South America or
You're Aussie or you're white or you're black or you're Jewish
It doesn't matter if we're in Christ Jesus, there's peace no matter what you know
What what there is, you know, this is the true answer to racism that we're all one in Christ Jesus
So, you know, I find more in common with a believer even if you're a completely different ethnicity
Even if maybe between our nations there was some type of war in the past or something
I find more in common with you as a brother or sister in Christ and I do with my so-called fellow man
That's how it ought to be
Okay
Jesus Christ came to bring peace to those that are within him in him that one body that's been reconciled through the cross
unto the Father I
Want you to turn to Romans chapter 8 for me, please go to Romans chapter 8
I
We've looked at peace between us and God and we can only have that in Christ Jesus
And now it's kind of want to keep building on the fact that we've been given the comforter
We've been given the Holy Ghost to give us peace as we walk and with as we live out the Christian life
And I just want to show you why it is that you struggle with peace
Okay, and why I struggle with peace, you know, I'm not pointing pointed fingers
We all struggle with this at different times and in 2020 and as we can we go into 2021 with the whole covert situation
There's a lot of Christians that are strong with peace. Honestly, there's a lot maybe you're maybe you're counted amongst that group. Okay
There's a lot of people just struggling with the concept of peace and they're unsettled
They're frustrated with all the things that are going on. But you know what even in the midst of tribulation we can have peace
That's what we saw at the beginning of the sermon, right?
And I want to show you where this lack of peace comes from Romans chapter 8 verse number 5
It says for they that are after the flesh
Do mind the things of the flesh
But they that are after the spirits the things of the spirit so we see there the flesh now spirit
There is capital S. I believe I do believe that's referring to the Holy Spirit
Our spirit was born from the Holy Spirit and it's the Holy Spirit that talks to our spirit
So there is a connection anyway between the Holy Spirit and the spirit the new spirit that we have within us
But notice there are these two elements that we're being dealt with here. Look at this number six for to be carnally
What's carnal?
You know
Meats or flesh. Okay to be carnally minded is death
Look at this, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace
So it's about our mindset do you have a peaceful mind are you at peace?
Even with all the lock, you know different types of lockdown different restrictions, whatever situation, you know
We find ourselves you gotta wear a mask here. You gotta wear a mask there whatever it is, you know
Well, are you at peace about that?
You know and if you're at peace great that tells me that you're spiritually minded that you're not concerned about this earth
You know, this place is is you know, God's gonna burn it down
And you know just at the end times things are just gonna get progressively worse we should know this
Okay, and if you're just well, that's how it is. And you know what? I'm at peace
Anyway, that means you're spiritually minded your mindset are on eternal things your mindset is, you know
Well, you know, it's just one step one day closer to the coming of Christ. Your mind is on spiritual matters
But if you're not if you're not living the life, you know a life of peace that tells me that you're carnally minded
You know, you're operating out of the flesh, okay, you're thinking too much about carnal things earthly things
worldly things rather than the things that are eternal look at verse number seven
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God
You say pastor Kevin, I've been strung with peace for at 20 20 20 21
You know what? That's because you were at enmity enmity against God
Your mind was an enemy toward God because you're operated from that carnal mind
You know, God does not want to be an enemy to you. He wants you to have that life and peace
Okay, but that comes by being spiritually minded
This is a struggle that we all have we all struggle this every time you sin
If you're honest enough to admit you've sinned today, you know why because you're carnally minded
Okay, and when you sin against God you trespassed against the Lord that's what sin means, you know the transgression of the law
You know, you've you've at that point you became an enemy to God when you sinned today
Okay, you're operating out of that carnal mind rather than operate from a spiritual mindset, which is life and peace
Let me just read verse number seven again because the carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the law of God
Neither indeed can be it says look it's this carnal mind doesn't submit itself or it's not subject to the law of God
It doesn't want to follow God's commandments and then never indeed can be you if you try to live a carnal life
You're not going to please the Lord. You're never going to satisfy the laws of God
Okay
The only way we can keep God's laws and keep ourselves clean to some extent is by being spiritually minded when you're spiritually minded
That's where life and peace will come from okay this fruit of the Spirit that the Holy Ghost wants to develop in you
Okay is is all about your mindset. Where are you mentally? Are you mentally kind of on carnal things?
Or is it on spiritual matters?
Now so, you know, like I said, you know, have you been at peace since COVID has turned this world upside down
Have you been at peace? And if you haven't been then let it let this sermon challenge you
I need that peace, you know go to the Lord and say Lord. I need this fruit of the Spirit
I've been lacking it in the last couple of years. I've been lacking this during COVID Lord. Give me that peace. Okay
Now as I said to you peace overcomes fear when we looked at the opposite of peace, you know
We looked at you know, it's the opposite of being afraid or being troubled and I'll just read a few passages to you
I might get you to turn to John chapter 20 go to John chapter 20
And I'll read to you some other passages
I'm going to read to you from Judges 6 22
Judges 6 22
It says and when Gideon
Perceived that he was an angel of the Lord
So an angel of the Lord comes to Gideon
Gideon said alas O Lord God for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face and
The Lord said unto him
Peace be unto thee
fear not
Thou shalt not die
So when God speaks to Gideon here, he says look peace be unto thee fear not
They see the opposite of peace
Okay, the opposite of peace is not to be afraid, you know, and I don't blame these guys
I think I'd be afraid if I just saw something saw an angel
You know what one of these heavenly beings come before me and and you see the glory of the heavenly host
Yeah, I think I'll be I'll be I'll be shocked as well
And so the message often you often see this in the Bible. It's fear not don't be afraid
Right be at peace in Daniel chapter 10 verse 18 the prophet Daniel
It says then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man and he strengthened me and said
Oh man, greatly beloved
fear not
Peace be unto thee be strong
Yea be strong and when he had spoken unto me
I was strengthened and said let my Lord speak for thou has strengthened me
You see peace will strengthen you peace will give you the strength to overcome fear
Look at John chapter 20 verse 19 John chapter 20 verse number 19
It says then the same day at evening
Being the first day of the week when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled
Look at this for fear of the Jews
Came Jesus and stood in the midst and saith unto them peace be unto you. I
Want you to see that say do you struggle with fears? Are you a fearful person?
You know, well, you know what the answer is God's peace
You need God's peace. You need this fruit of a spirit to me
This is so vital, especially in a troubled society in a troubled world
You know in a time when when things are so unsettled you need the peace of God
I need the peace of God, right? Otherwise, you will struggle and go for these fears. You will be troubled
Okay, and you will be exercising that carnal mind
Instead of exercising the spiritual mind and being focused on the things that God wants us to do and
So, you know the what I'm trying to tell you Brevin is, you know, don't fear
You know and sometimes people, you know don't want to step out and do something great for God because they have fears
You know, sometimes people just don't want to go so winning because they're afraid, you know of what's how are people gonna react at the door?
You know, if the reason one of the reasons you're held back from going soul winning, you know
And you know, it's fear. Well, you need peace. You need the peace of God. You need to ask God give me this peace
so I have the strength to be able to go out there and face my fears and
Really, you know for those of us that go so in a regular basis, you know
Maybe kind of was scary at the beginning right but that's kind of like I it's just gonna knock on someone's door
What's the worst someone can do right? I mean, what are they maybe?
Shout some profanity at you. That's probably the worst they're gonna do to you, right?
And so, you know, we need to not be afraid, you know, some people are afraid of failure, right?
and you know
This was one reason why I was sort of
It took me a long time to go soul winning
because I was afraid that if I knock on someone's door and they ask me some question that I won't be able to answer that
Question and I had that fear that I'm gonna fail in my efforts to go soul winning, right?
I thought that I needed an answer to every
Arguments or you know every so-called contradiction that might be in the Bible
You know every argument to evolution and and every argument to every false religion now
And I didn't want to go so any for a while because you know first of all, you know several years
You know as a young man because I was just like well
I'm not gonna be able to answer the questions and so there's a fear of failure, right?
You know, some people have a have a fear of maybe finding a spouse maybe you know, I'll never find a spouse
I'm never gonna find you know, don't don't give in to to that kind of fear
You know what you need is the peace of God in your life
Okay, some people might be afraid of of failure of finding a job, right?
You know, they've gone and they've applied for a job. They've applied for a job
They don't get it and they've got the fears out. I'm gonna fail my family
I'm gonna I'm gonna fail the people that are dependent upon me and you know what you just need the peace of God in your life
You know do what God expects you to do and just realize that sometimes you will fail
Sometimes you will fall but look do it peaceful peaceably
Okay, don't don't do it. You know, don't don't prevent yourself from failure because of fears
We're all gonna make mistakes in life. You know, you're gonna go so in it and you're sometimes gonna mess it up
It happens. What are you gonna do? Okay, you just got to learn to pick yourself up
Okay, and and carry on Proverbs 24 verse 16 says for a just man
faileth seven times and
Rise up up again, but the wicked shall fall into mischief
The righteous man the just man, you know what no matter how good you are how mature you are. You're gonna fail
You're gonna you're gonna fall
All right
so don't allow the fear of failure stop you from doing what God wants you can you're going to fall and
Guess what when you fall you get right back up and say God help me get back up
Lord help me not to make this mistake again
help me not to have a fear give me a peace so I can pursue what it is that you want me to accomplish my
Life and and operate, you know in accordance to your word operate out of the will that you have before me in your life
Otherwise, you know if you if you allow fear to get a hold of you, you're never going to achieve
You know, you're never going to be successful right at serving the Lord at doing what the Lord wants you to do
Can you please send to Philippians chapter 4 Philippians chapter 4?
Philippians chapter 4
Because you might say well, yeah pastor Kevin I I need the peace of God I realize that I realize I have these unnecessary
fears, I realize I'm troubled and
You know
COVID-19 has been a real frustrating time in my life and I just don't have the peace. What what's the solution?
All right. How do I get this piece? We already saw we were kind of taught that solution, right?
It's about walking the spirit. Okay, it's about exercising your mind on spiritual matters
Okay, walking in that new man putting off the old man
But look at Philippians chapter 4 verse number 5
And this is a really great passage to think about it says let your moderation be known unto all men
Then it says these words the Lord is at hand
You know that's saying the Lord is close by
You know anytime you need the Lord. He's as far as just you
Say any prayer the Lord is right there. The Lord is at hand then it says in verse number six
Be careful for nothing. Hey, don't be full of care. Don't be full of worries
but in
Everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Let your requests be made known unto God
And so how is it that we deal with our troubles?
You need to learn how to pray you need to take these things to the Lord, right with thanksgiving
This is the best way to pray. Okay, don't just be like our Lord. I need this I need this I need this
It's good to exercise your mind and say well Lord, how have you blessed me today?
How have you blessed me over the last week Lord? Thank you for my paycheck that I got this week Lord
Thank you for blessing. Thank you for salvation
Thank you for my family. Thank you for the Bible. Thank you for a home in heaven
Thank you for giving me the comforter, you know when you approach God in prayer go with thanksgiving as well
Okay, as well as bringing your supplications before him
now the next verses are crucial because it says in verse number seven and
So once you've done this and the peace of God
Which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds?
through Christ Jesus
So the peace we need Brevin is the peace of God which passeth all understanding
Okay, it's beyond understanding is what that says, okay
You know, you can live a life of peace and people can look at you and go why is it so peaceful?
It doesn't make sense. Yeah, it doesn't make sense because it's the peace of God. It's not that peace that come from this world
That means we can go through all kinds of hardships and we can still have a smile on our face and be at peace
I know Christians like that. I've seen mature Christians in churches
Where it's just they're always at peace. They're always joyful
They're always at church just serving God and worshiping God and and you think you know
You could be mistaken and saying that person never suffers
Surely that person never goes through any trouble. How is it that they're always at peace?
You know why it's not because they don't go through troubles. We all go through troubles
Okay, never think I'm the only one go through some difficulties. We all do everybody does
Every family has some difficulty that I face
Okay, it's just that these people have been able to develop that fruit of peace in their lives
Then you don't even notice that they're going through difficulties. Okay?
So this is a peace that comes from God it passeth all understanding. Look at verse number eight
This is other good advice about the peace. It says finally brethren whatsoever things are true
Whatsoever things are honest
Whatsoever things are just
Whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely
Whatsoever things are of good reports if there be any virtue and if there be any praise
think on these things
Now look at verse number nine those things which you have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do and
the God of peace
Shall be with you
Hey, how is it that you can live a life of peace?
Again, it's about exercising your mind
Right being spiritually minded and so you take your mind and you put your mind on these things
What things the things that are true things that are honest things that are just things that are pure
Things that are lovely look, I don't know how much time you spend
Okay, turn on the news
Look I keep preaching about against the media these days, right, but honestly
Their job is to get you be kindly minded. Their job is to make you afraid. Their job is to make you troubled
Okay, and you keep putting that TV on that's all you're just gonna be kindly minded
You're just gonna be upset and frustrated and worried when God says no put your mind on things that are lovely
It's not lovely to turn on the TV and find out that some car crash and some other people died and some other people got
Wiped out and some war somewhere in the world and just constantly feeding your mind every day this thing. That's not lovely
Okay
I've seen that lovely what sort of things are of good report if there be any virtue if there be any praise
Think on these things. This is what you need to be spending your mind on
And I'm not just talking about you know, the mainstream media I'm talking about YouTube, you know, I'm talking about the alternative media
Right. I mean that's what the alternative media likes to do, right?
They say hey stop listening to to the mainstream media because they're lying to you and they are lying to you
And say they listen to us listen to the alternative media, you know, we'll tell you what's really going on
All right. Let's find out what's really going on and then you measure those things with the things that are in this list
Are they is everything they say true is everything they say honest is everything they say pure and lovely
good report virtue and praise no and
So, you know
it's funny because you've got these two groups of people one group of people that listen to mainstream media and then another group people that
Listen to alternative media and they look at the people that listen to mainstream media and they say oh you're the sheeple
You know, you're the sheep. Yeah, that's what we are. Jesus Christ calls us the sheep
And he's the shepherd. There's nothing wrong with being a sheep and we've seen recently that hey, we're sheep that accounted for the slaughter
There's nothing wrong with being a sheep
Okay
as long as your shepherd is
Jesus Christ your shepherd not ought not to be mainstream media and your shepherd is definitely not the alternative media either
both of these things are going to cause you to be troubled and
Worried and upset and be kindly minded when our instruction is to be spiritually minded
How we ought to have our minds on Jesus Christ, this is our media
This is what we feast our eyes upon. This is the commentary on the world
Okay, not mainstream media and not the alternative media. They're both kindly minded
Okay, one might be more truthful than the other but they're both kindly minded. Okay, and you're gonna be frustrated
You're gonna be worried. You're not gonna be at peace
Okay, peace comes by following the Shepherd by reading the words of the Shepherd, okay
There's nothing going on in this world. That wasn't already covered in this book
And if you don't get that you just need to start reading this again
Okay, this book talks about everything that's going on in 2020 and 2021
Till Jesus Christ comes back and even after that
Okay, even for a thousand years after that and even in the new heavens and new earth
God's Word already gives us everything we need there is nothing new under the Sun
Okay, be careful about what you spend your time on brethren. Okay, be careful
He turned to first Timothy chapter 2 verse number 1 first Timothy chapter 2 verse number 1
Pastor Kevin, don't you know it's hard to be at peace
Because we live under such a wicked government such a corrupt government. I
know it is
Okay in the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. That's those are the words of Jesus
Okay
so
You know and I've been hearing about this a lot how corrupt the government is and that what are they pushing out?
If you've been turned on the TV
Mandatory vaccinations, they've been rolled out, you know, I think it started this week. Okay mandatory vaccination. What are we gonna do?
We're worried and concerned. It's a no we're called to be people of peace
Okay. Now, yes, we do live in a you know, we've under wicked leadership
Okay, I know that it's not new that's not you're not there's nothing you in the Sun, you know
Jesus lived on the wicked wicked leadership as well
Okay
First Timothy chapter 2 verse number 1. I
exhort therefore that first of all
supplications prayers intercessions and
Giving off. Thanks be made for all men
For Kings and for all that are in authority
What pray for our wicked government pray for our wicked politicians?
That's what the Lord's telling you to do
Okay that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness and honesty
You know what? I
Think there's just way too much whining and murmuring and complaining about our government
You know what God tells us to do when we don't have peace because our wicked government, you know
We're meant to do when we're meant to be praying for them
That's what we're meant to do, you know every time I hear about how wicked our government is
I sure hope you've at least been praying about them or for them as much as you are complaining about them
In fact, I believe if you spend more time praying for them, you're not going to be complaining about them so much
Alright, because the only way we can live and lead a quiet and peaceful life is to pray for the kings and for all
That are in authority
All right, I'm sick and tired of hearing about how wicked our government is we know we've known this I've known this my whole life
It's not like 2020 now, they're wicked they've always been wicked
They've always been wicked
Okay, and I don't care if you're on the left or the right. They're all wicked. They're all corrupt
Okay, I mean these people go into
Parliament or you know go into power just to make money to get them make themselves rich
You know, do you not think Paul knew this when he wrote first Timothy?
Do you think God did not really know this and God says look pray for them?
Why pray that they would not make our lives difficult pray that they would allow us to live a quiet and peaceful life
So your next time you start thinking I can't believe now they're doing mandatory vaccination
How wicked this government is look before that comes out of your mouth before you get kindly minded
How about you get spiritually mind the first and go and pray for them?
Okay, that's gonna respect and honor what God has asked you to do
okay, because when you just
Pour out all the things that you're listening to that I can't reminded. Okay, you know what that's gonna breed more trouble
You're just gonna upset other people you might upset other church members. They just want to live a peaceful life
They know what's going on. It's not like all your sheep. Well, you don't know what's going on
We all know what's going on. If you read your Bible, we all know what's going on
Okay, we all know what's going on, but you need to find the peace of God
Okay, we're called to be peacemakers
Peacemakers we do that by praying for our authorities. I don't care how wicked they are
This is a commandment that is given to us by God and it's not for the politicians sake that we pray for them
It's for our sake that we can live a quiet and peaceful life
Maybe the reason why we do face a government that's trying to push their agenda. Maybe we've not just not been praying for them
Okay, maybe we're not being praying for this quiet and peaceful life
Maybe we've taken it all for granted and we can completely forgot about these passages and instead of praying as the people of God
We just started complaining about them murmuring and whining complaining like the Israelites did when they came out of agents
Can you please turn to James chapter 3 James chapter 3
Verse 14 James chapter 3 verse number 14
So what's the solution brethren prayers prayers take your worries take your concerns to God?
Okay, and then if you're concerned about what the government's doing go and pray about them to God as well
Ask God, can you help them bring in the laws, you know remove the restrictions so I can live a quiet peaceful life
Lord can you cause them to take away these restrictions that are restricting us to worship and serve you the way we would love to as
a church
Those that's what we need to be doing instead of just one one complaining gets nowhere. All he breeds is trouble
That's all he breeds
trouble confusion and fears
Okay, we're called to be at peace. It's a fruit of the Spirit
Where did I ask you to turn James of the free James of the free verse 14?
The next thing I want to talk about is
Even though we're striving for peace. It's not peace at all costs
Okay, it's not like peace is the most important thing that we strive for there is actually something more important than peace
Okay
So I don't want anyone to think that after this sermon that will pass the Kevin said, you know
It's peace at all costs
And so, you know what?
I'm not going to preach certain portions of the Bible because it could cause trouble and I just want to keep things peaceful
Alright, if I you know, I better not upset anybody, you know, cuz I'm driven. I got it
I gotta live for peace. Well, there's something more important than peace James of the free verse 14
It says here, but if you have bitter envy in and strife in your heart
So doesn't sound like someone of peace right glory not and lie not against the truth
You know what? This is saying to me that people that have bitter envy in and strife in their hearts
They actually like to glory about it
They like to glory about all their conflicts and the times they've they've got into arguments and fights
Listen, that is not the heart. That is not the mind of a peaceful person. Okay?
Let's keep going. It says and lie not against the truth this wisdom
Descendeth not from above but is earthly sensual devilish
You know what people that just go on about the conflicts and strife it's not from above it's not from God
It's not the peace of God
Okay, it's earthly sensual devilish. It's been carnally minded again
Okay
Verse number 16 for where envy in and strife is there is confusion and every evil work
But the wisdom that is from above look at this. This is important is first pure
then peaceable
So is there something more important than peace?
What's first?
It says there first pure the wisdom from above is first pure then peaceable
Gentle and easy to be entreated full of mercy and good fruits without
partiality and without hypocrisy look at verse number 18 and the fruits of righteousness is sown in peace of
them that make peace
Okay. Hey, what are we called to be Jesus Christ says blessed other peacemakers?
You know what we ought to be doing we ought to be making peace
All right, how do we start again we go to prayer that's that's our weapon it's a powerful weapon prayer is powerful
It reaches the ears of God and he can step in and answer those prayers
Okay, we can change the COVID world if we just got on our knees and praise the God to God and took it
seriously
asking to give us a
You know
quiet and peaceful life
Okay, we're called to be peacemakers
Now what I want to notice in verse number 17, it's not peace at all costs something more important than peace is
purity first pure
Okay, and so my point is this brethren, you know, and I've used this illustration a few times, you know
If you're out at work and your work colleagues are like, let's go to the pub
You know, let's drown our sorrows because we're not at peace, right? We've alcohol whatever and you might say well
You know what? I want to get along this person. I want to have peace with this person
So I'm gonna head out there. No first pure
First pure then peaceable. Okay, so there are times that we're just not gonna be able to have peace
Okay, if you stand for purity if you keep yourself pure listen, the words of God are pure words
pure words, okay, so as
Long as we stand on God's Word, we're doing what God wants us to do
Then you should do everything to strive for peace. Okay, you stick to purity then you go for peace
Okay, you don't skip the purity. You don't skip on keeping yourself, you know
Undefiled just to seek after peace. You've got it mixed up. Okay first purity then peace but peace is important
Okay, peace is important, but I just want you to notice it's not peace at all costs
I'm not just trying to find peace with everybody in this world. Okay, I try to
But first before I do that, I make sure that I live a pure clean life that you know gives God joy
Okay that follows what God wants us to to live by
All right. Can you please go to 1st Peter chapter 3 we'll end on this one 1st Peter chapter 3
1st Peter chapter 3 verse number 9
It
Says not rendering evil for evil or railing for railing but contra wise blessing
Knowing that ye are therefore called that ye should inherit a blessing
For here that will love life and see good days. Listen. Do you want to love your life? Do you want to see good days?
Do you want 2021 to be a good days for you?
You know and just love life
You know what even in the in the midst of restrictions and border closures and and mass mandates
You know, if you do you still want to be someone that loves life or do you always be what want to be whining complaining?
Okay. Well, what do we have to do for he that will love life and see good days?
Let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they should speak no guile
Look at this. Let him issue evil and do good
Let him seek peace and
Intuit
Let him seek peace and into it. You want 2021 to be one of the best years in your life
You know what you need to do. We need to seek peace. You need to ensure it. What does it mean?
Well, it kind of sounds like the word pursue. Okay, same idea. All right pursue is a little bit more negative
It's pursue is kind of like you're almost like a hostile person trying to pursue something like maybe you know
The cops might be pursuing you or something like that
But to answer you it's kind of the same idea to ensure is to follow after
Okay, or to to attain or to take hold of same kind of idea. Okay, but not in the same negative context
You know where to follow after peace. Okay, we're to attain peace
okay, we ought to try to have that in our lives and
You know, sometimes there are just some people that just do not want the peace. They actually like the conflicts. They like the troubles
Okay, but I don't I
Don't I know they're necessary
I'm not tribulations gonna work, you know allow God to work in my life
But I want you know go through tribulation and at the same time be at peace because that's how God wants us to operate
All right, and so brethren, you know, this is fruit of the Spirit part 3 peace
And again, the only way you get that brethren is by being in the new man, you know
As we go through these fruits of the Spirit, I don't want you to say well
Yeah, I got this one. I got this one. I don't have this one and that's just the way I am
I'm just not a peaceful person
You know, I'm just no you
Okay. Yeah, you you might admit that you're not that way. All you're admitting to me is that I don't walk off the Spirit
That's all you're admitting. All you're admitting is basically I'm kindly minded
So don't turn around and say to me, you know, I'm just not that kind of person because you're just telling me
Okay, well you kindly minded and I don't want to think about you like that
I want to think about you as someone that is striving to allow the Holy Ghost to work these fruits into your life
Okay, and you know to put our hands up and admit that sometimes we are worried. Sometimes we are troubled
Sometimes we are afraid. Okay, and we all go through that. Okay, but when those times happen, what do we do?
Be careful for nothing. We take our prayers with thanksgiving before God say God help me
Please take these worries away from me. Please take these fears away from me. Give me your peace that passeth all understanding
Okay, let's pray
Have any follow