for the last few weeks we have been in a<\/p>\n
series on what the Bible calls<\/p>\n
fruit of the spirit<\/p>\n
fruit of the spirit if you think about<\/p>\n
any fruit tree<\/p>\n
you know a specific tree will there of<\/p>\n
specific kind of fruit right an apple<\/p>\n
tree<\/p>\n
it will bear apples<\/p>\n
a Jackfruit tree one of my favorites it<\/p>\n
will bear jackfruit<\/p>\n
if it's an orange tree it will bear<\/p>\n
wish the kids were still in here to help<\/p>\n
they will bear oranges nice work Nati<\/p>\n
yes<\/p>\n
now this language that the Bible is<\/p>\n
using Here Fruit of the Spirit it's<\/p>\n
being used to illustrate<\/p>\n
the fruit that God brings or gives or<\/p>\n
produces<\/p>\n
in the life of a believer in the life of<\/p>\n
a Christian<\/p>\n
you see a follower of Jesus<\/p>\n
is going to look more and more like<\/p>\n
Jesus to understand the good news of<\/p>\n
Jesus is to see that truth at work<\/p>\n
changing our hearts changing our minds<\/p>\n
changing our lives<\/p>\n
it's an ongoing transformation too<\/p>\n
something God is committed to doing in<\/p>\n
US<\/p>\n
it's a process it's a process called<\/p>\n
sanctification<\/p>\n
in the book of Galatians chapter 5<\/p>\n
we read this but the Fruit of the Spirit<\/p>\n
is love<\/p>\n
Joy<\/p>\n
peace<\/p>\n
patience kindness goodness faithfulness<\/p>\n
gentleness<\/p>\n
self-control<\/p>\n
against such things there is no law<\/p>\n
friends a life planted in God<\/p>\n
will bear fruit that is of god do you<\/p>\n
see how that works<\/p>\n
an apple tree won't produce oranges and<\/p>\n
be able to say I'm an apple tree<\/p>\n
no the life of a Christian will exhibit<\/p>\n
fruit that comes by and through the<\/p>\n
spirit of God fruit of the spirit<\/p>\n
today we're going to be focusing and<\/p>\n
looking at the fruit of peace<\/p>\n
now the Bible is an amazing compilation<\/p>\n
of books 66 books<\/p>\n
that reveal who God is and what he has<\/p>\n
done<\/p>\n
and in some versions of the Bible you'll<\/p>\n
find text that is displayed in red<\/p>\n
red ink or red pixels on your app these<\/p>\n
red letter words are words that were<\/p>\n
spoken by Jesus himself<\/p>\n
so Parables or stories that he taught<\/p>\n
conversations that he had with others<\/p>\n
truth that he shared Christians also<\/p>\n
believe the Bible to be the word of God<\/p>\n
in its entirety words that speak to our<\/p>\n
hearts words that reveal truth to us<\/p>\n
the verses that we'll read today and<\/p>\n
focus on today are from Jesus himself<\/p>\n
words that all these years later are<\/p>\n
here to speak to our hearts and to our<\/p>\n
minds<\/p>\n
you know the prophet Isaiah<\/p>\n
who foretold the coming of the Messiah<\/p>\n
the coming of Jesus Christ wrote this<\/p>\n
for to us a child is born to us a son is<\/p>\n
given and the government shall be upon<\/p>\n
his shoulder and his name Shall be<\/p>\n
Called wonderful counselor<\/p>\n
Mighty God<\/p>\n
Everlasting father Prince<\/p>\n
of peace<\/p>\n
Prince<\/p>\n
Jesus is the Prince of Peace<\/p>\n
and today we're going to look at a few<\/p>\n
specific passages from the bible where<\/p>\n
jesus himself spoke and taught about<\/p>\n
peace revealing our need<\/p>\n
for peace<\/p>\n
and revealing a true and Lasting peace<\/p>\n
and revealing an invitation to cultivate<\/p>\n
let me pray for us as we begin<\/p>\n
God we thank you for your word the Bible<\/p>\n
we believe that it's true we are<\/p>\n
grateful that we can read it aloud today<\/p>\n
we ask that you would Reveal Your Truth<\/p>\n
in these passages to us that these words<\/p>\n
we read would speak to our hearts at a<\/p>\n
deeper level<\/p>\n
and lead us in our faith in you<\/p>\n
we ask this in your Holy Name Lord Jesus<\/p>\n
amen<\/p>\n
I'll read a few passages now and then<\/p>\n
we'll look at them more in depth<\/p>\n
in the Gospel of John chapter 16.<\/p>\n
verse 33 I have said these things to you<\/p>\n
that in me you may have peace in the<\/p>\n
world you will have tribulation<\/p>\n
but take heart<\/p>\n
I have overcome<\/p>\n
the world<\/p>\n
earlier in the Gospel of John chapter<\/p>\n
14.<\/p>\n
I leave with you<\/p>\n
my peace I give to you not as the world<\/p>\n
gives do I give to you<\/p>\n
let not your hearts be troubled<\/p>\n
neither let them be afraid<\/p>\n
and in the gospel of Matthew chapter 5<\/p>\n
verse 9 blessed are the peacemakers<\/p>\n
for they shall be called sons of God<\/p>\n
or French for Merry Christmas<\/p>\n
is the title of a film that takes place<\/p>\n
during the first world war as the film<\/p>\n
begins it's Christmas Eve<\/p>\n
1914.<\/p>\n
the opposing sides in the battle are<\/p>\n
huddled in their cold and dirty trenches<\/p>\n
the French and Scottish forces are on<\/p>\n
one side of the battlefield and on the<\/p>\n
other the German forces<\/p>\n
at one point in the evening the Scottish<\/p>\n
soldiers began to play music on their<\/p>\n
bagpipes<\/p>\n
they play Silent Night<\/p>\n
and then suddenly they hear<\/p>\n
the German soldiers singing Silent Night<\/p>\n
later that evening the commanding<\/p>\n
officers cautiously make their way<\/p>\n
across the battlefield to meet in the<\/p>\n
middle<\/p>\n
and through conversation they decide to<\/p>\n
call a ceasefire<\/p>\n
for Christmas<\/p>\n
on Christmas day soldiers from both<\/p>\n
sides they come out and they meet in the<\/p>\n
No Man's Land the middle of the<\/p>\n
battlefield they come to share food and<\/p>\n
drink<\/p>\n
and at some point even play a game of<\/p>\n
football together<\/p>\n
now the movie is is really well done<\/p>\n
it's it's a beautiful show of humanity<\/p>\n
in the midst of the horrors of War<\/p>\n
the truly amazing part though about this<\/p>\n
film is that this ceasefire really<\/p>\n
happened<\/p>\n
at least some version of it<\/p>\n
the film is a fictionalized account of<\/p>\n
that event<\/p>\n
that took place in December of 1914<\/p>\n
two opposing factions<\/p>\n
at war with one another<\/p>\n
they laid down their weapons<\/p>\n
and they approached one another<\/p>\n
in peace<\/p>\n
in the midst<\/p>\n
of a war<\/p>\n
stories like this they move us because<\/p>\n
they reveal the deeper parts of who we<\/p>\n
are as humans<\/p>\n
there was peace<\/p>\n
in the midst of War<\/p>\n
it's what we want<\/p>\n
the cessation of violence the end of<\/p>\n
aggression we want to live at peace<\/p>\n
we desire<\/p>\n
an internal peace<\/p>\n
and an external peace<\/p>\n
the great irony of course<\/p>\n
was that these very soldiers would have<\/p>\n
to pick up weapons again<\/p>\n
against each other<\/p>\n
in a few days<\/p>\n
they were at War<\/p>\n
our need for peace is deep<\/p>\n
looking back at this verse in John<\/p>\n
Jesus says this<\/p>\n
when he's speaking with his disciples<\/p>\n
he's explaining to them about what is<\/p>\n
going to happen his impending death he<\/p>\n
is going to die<\/p>\n
their world is about to change<\/p>\n
now they don't really understand what is<\/p>\n
going to happen Jesus his statements<\/p>\n
they're confusing<\/p>\n
and they're having a hard time<\/p>\n
understanding what is going to take<\/p>\n
place<\/p>\n
but Jesus's statement here in this verse<\/p>\n
is one of of true reality<\/p>\n
he says you will have<\/p>\n
tribulation you will have tribulation<\/p>\n
Jesus is about to suffer and die<\/p>\n
then his followers will be scattered<\/p>\n
friends you know we live in a beautiful<\/p>\n
and yet broken world<\/p>\n
things are just not as they should be<\/p>\n
and we know it<\/p>\n
we feel it right we experience it<\/p>\n
and it's our longing for these things to<\/p>\n
be made right that lead us to seek help<\/p>\n
we need peace we want it<\/p>\n
we need a true and Lasting peace<\/p>\n
a true and Lasting peace<\/p>\n
earlier in the Gospel of John<\/p>\n
Jesus says this peace I leave with you<\/p>\n
my peace I give to you<\/p>\n
not as the world gives do I give to you<\/p>\n
and this statement comes from Jesus in<\/p>\n
The Gospel of John<\/p>\n
and he's seeking to comfort his<\/p>\n
disciples in their growing concern and<\/p>\n
dismay<\/p>\n
my peace I give you he says<\/p>\n
and it's not like what the world has to<\/p>\n
offer<\/p>\n
no see the peace that Jesus brings and<\/p>\n
gives is true and it's also lasting<\/p>\n
and it settles our internal and external<\/p>\n
chaos<\/p>\n
Saint Augustine a church forefather<\/p>\n
and the bishop of Hippo a city in Africa<\/p>\n
he said this<\/p>\n
thou has made us for thyself O Lord and<\/p>\n
our heart is restless until it finds<\/p>\n
rest in the<\/p>\n
God has made us he has made you to know<\/p>\n
him<\/p>\n
and until you do and rest in him you<\/p>\n
will be restless you will be restless<\/p>\n
searching looking for the peace that we<\/p>\n
desire<\/p>\n
we were made to know our creator to know<\/p>\n
him and be known by him to know and feel<\/p>\n
the love of God<\/p>\n
to be at peace with God and in God<\/p>\n
and yes we are restless<\/p>\n
until we find that true rest that true<\/p>\n
peace in Jesus Christ The Prince of<\/p>\n
Peace<\/p>\n
so what is the source of our peace I<\/p>\n
mean asking ask ourselves right ask our<\/p>\n
own Hearts this question where do we<\/p>\n
seek peace where do we find solace<\/p>\n
and is it a true piece is it a lasting<\/p>\n
you know these days right we are doing<\/p>\n
all that we can<\/p>\n
to mitigate the harsh realities of<\/p>\n
living in a broken world<\/p>\n
we seek peace wherever it may be found<\/p>\n
in finances in relationships Comfort<\/p>\n
exercise<\/p>\n
and so on<\/p>\n
now these areas of our lives these<\/p>\n
things are not necessarily bad but they<\/p>\n
are not able to give us the true and<\/p>\n
deep peace we need<\/p>\n
if we look to someone else something<\/p>\n
else to provide what only Jesus can<\/p>\n
provide we will be disappointed we will<\/p>\n
be let down<\/p>\n
don't look for true and Lasting peace<\/p>\n
where it cannot be found<\/p>\n
the peace I give you Jesus says it's not<\/p>\n
the peace that the world offers<\/p>\n
in the book of Philippians<\/p>\n
we read this the peace of God<\/p>\n
which surpasses all understanding will<\/p>\n
guard your hearts and your minds in<\/p>\n
Christ Jesus<\/p>\n
the Peace of Jesus Christ worked in Us<\/p>\n
by the holy spirit of God<\/p>\n
will surpass our understanding<\/p>\n
it's beyond our comprehension it's it's<\/p>\n
beyond what we can fathom<\/p>\n
it surprises us it blesses us<\/p>\n
look at the words here in this verse<\/p>\n
reminding ourselves that Jesus spoke<\/p>\n
these about peace earlier this piece<\/p>\n
this peace of God<\/p>\n
will guard you<\/p>\n
and it will guard your heart it will<\/p>\n
guard your mind<\/p>\n
do you see the beauty<\/p>\n
do you see the beauty of the peace which<\/p>\n
God brings to bear on our hearts<\/p>\n
as we turn to God in Repentance of our<\/p>\n
sin coming to him in faith looking into<\/p>\n
Jesus Christ in his perfect work of<\/p>\n
Salvation we find that peace<\/p>\n
it's given it's instilled in our hearts<\/p>\n
and as God works to sanctify our hearts<\/p>\n
as he works to change our lives we're<\/p>\n
given an invitation to cultivate peace<\/p>\n
blessed are the peacemakers<\/p>\n
this passage comes in the midst of<\/p>\n
Jesus's teaching that is known as The<\/p>\n
Sermon on the Mount<\/p>\n
when we speak of the fruit of the spirit<\/p>\n
yes we're speaking about characteristics<\/p>\n
that God gives to us builds in US grows<\/p>\n
in US<\/p>\n
and he does so for his glory<\/p>\n
to use our lives to love and care for<\/p>\n
others<\/p>\n
you know through Jesus Christ The Prince<\/p>\n
of Peace<\/p>\n
we're given an internal peace and made<\/p>\n
ambassadors<\/p>\n
of external peace<\/p>\n
God instills peace in us so that we may<\/p>\n
seek to be cultivators of peace peace<\/p>\n
makers<\/p>\n
peacemakers<\/p>\n
blessed are those the Bible says that<\/p>\n
seek to make peace<\/p>\n
do you see the language here<\/p>\n
what does this passage say about these<\/p>\n
peacemakers it says they are sons of God<\/p>\n
they are Daughters of God they are in<\/p>\n
God's family<\/p>\n
because they are seeking to make peace<\/p>\n
they're mirroring the image of the<\/p>\n
Prince of Peace<\/p>\n
they're looking to him for guidance he's<\/p>\n
working in them and through them<\/p>\n
in the book of Colossians we read this<\/p>\n
in chapter 3.<\/p>\n
and above all these<\/p>\n
put on love<\/p>\n
which binds everything together in<\/p>\n
Perfect Harmony and Let the Peace of<\/p>\n
Christ rule in your hearts to which<\/p>\n
indeed you were called in one body<\/p>\n
and be thankful<\/p>\n
a peacemaker is one allowing the Peace<\/p>\n
of Jesus Christ to rule in their hearts<\/p>\n
to rule in their hearts<\/p>\n
the weary soul<\/p>\n
lost in the disorder and the chaos of<\/p>\n
this world finds respite and refuge in<\/p>\n
Jesus<\/p>\n
the peace of God is for the here<\/p>\n
and now<\/p>\n
and it's for ever it is for forever<\/p>\n
this past week in our small group<\/p>\n
we were talking about the difference<\/p>\n
between happiness<\/p>\n
and joy<\/p>\n
happiness and joy and the study that<\/p>\n
we're going through was drawing a<\/p>\n
distinction<\/p>\n
you know our happiness is contingent on<\/p>\n
our circumstances<\/p>\n
but our joy<\/p>\n
is rooted in our standing with God<\/p>\n
our happiness will fluctuate<\/p>\n
with the ebb and flow of life right all<\/p>\n
its Seasons it's it's tribulations it's<\/p>\n
trials<\/p>\n
there are times where it's not<\/p>\n
appropriate to be happy we can't be<\/p>\n
happy<\/p>\n
but if our joy is in the Lord that will<\/p>\n
remain<\/p>\n
it's a joy and peace that passes<\/p>\n
understanding<\/p>\n
the picture we're given towards the end<\/p>\n
of the Bible<\/p>\n
is one of this kind of Peace this true<\/p>\n
and Lasting peace that our souls need<\/p>\n
that our souls were created for<\/p>\n
in the Book of Revelation we read this<\/p>\n
chapter 21.<\/p>\n
and I heard a loud voice from the throne<\/p>\n
saying<\/p>\n
Behold The Dwelling Place of God is with<\/p>\n
man<\/p>\n
he will dwell with them and they will be<\/p>\n
his people and God himself will be with<\/p>\n
them as their God<\/p>\n
he will wipe away every tear from their<\/p>\n
eyes<\/p>\n
and death<\/p>\n
shall be no more<\/p>\n
neither shall there be mourning nor<\/p>\n
crying nor pain anymore<\/p>\n
for the former things have passed away<\/p>\n
and he who was Seated on the throne said<\/p>\n
behold<\/p>\n
I am making all things new<\/p>\n
Theologian and author C.S Lewis said<\/p>\n
this<\/p>\n
God cannot give us a happiness<\/p>\n
and a piece<\/p>\n
apart from himself<\/p>\n
because it is not there there is no such<\/p>\n
thing<\/p>\n
friends come<\/p>\n
come to the peace<\/p>\n
that is offered by the Prince of Peace<\/p>\n
come to him again and again for the true<\/p>\n
and Lasting peace that only he can give<\/p>\n
for those of you who say I am a follower<\/p>\n
of Jesus I am a Christian be reminded<\/p>\n
today of the peace that you live in the<\/p>\n
peace that has been spoken over your<\/p>\n
life<\/p>\n
and walk forward in that peace<\/p>\n
and those of you who would say I don't<\/p>\n
know<\/p>\n
who Jesus is to me I don't know but I do<\/p>\n
sense my need for this piece I would say<\/p>\n
to you run to him<\/p>\n
run to the Prince of Peace<\/p>\n
and let him show you let him demonstrate<\/p>\n
his love and mercy in your life let's<\/p>\n
pray<\/p>\n
God our Father we we thank you for<\/p>\n
bringing peace to this hurting world<\/p>\n
through the life and work of your son<\/p>\n
Jesus Christ<\/p>\n
Jesus our Prince of Peace come and rule<\/p>\n
in our hearts<\/p>\n
Holy Spirit Come and fill our lives with<\/p>\n
the fruit that only you can bring the<\/p>\n
fruit that only you can build in US<\/p>\n
help us to walk in your way help us to<\/p>\n
rest in you<\/p>\n
and make us peace makers<\/p>\n
we ask and pray this<\/p>\n
in your holy name<\/p>","english_search_text":"","":"","original_publish_date":"20230710","video_url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YJtAetXqV8I","video_id":"YJtAetXqV8I","video_duration":"22:41","channel_name":"Grace City Bangkok"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/613","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=613"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/613\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":614,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/613\/revisions\/614"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/612"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=613"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=613"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=613"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}