Welcome to Waymaker Church! We are so excited to have you join us today! We exist to Encounter, Live for, and Advance the Kingdom of God!

Just recently, Emily and I were offered an opportunity to lead a church in Albuquerque. After prayer and consideration, we found ourselves saying no to taking that church. Now here is the crazy part. On paper, our decision doesn’t make sense:

-It is in a larger town
-It is an up-to-date, large facility in a good area of town. Very affluent.
-The building is paid off.
-There is already staff present.
-Financially, the church is sound.
The list could go on.

The reality is, in prayer about the possibility… what I didn’t find in all the potential perks was the Peace of God.

Some of you may understand what I’m talking about, but some of you may have no idea.

In this story, we see the final chapter of a man’s life. The end of his relationship with his father, his familial relationship with his brothers, the influence of his work position, and ultimately his death.

It would be easy to brush over the story and move on to the next, but the Lord drew my heart to the broader story of Joseph and his response to his family at the end of his life.

Genesis 50:21 specifically caught my attention, it says, “Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.”

Let me give you a general overview of Joseph’s life story. He had been born into a family filled with competition and envy. He is the son of Jacob and Rachel. His mom had a sister Leah who was also married to Jacob, and they had persistent contention.

Jacob favored Rachel, causing much insecurity in Leah. The result was competition between the two concerning offspring. Leah was fertile and Rachel was barren, and it was a recipe for strife and contention.

God opened the womb of Rachel, and she had Joseph. Jacob played favorites with his children and loved Joseph more than the rest and was shown special treatment. This naturally caused a rift with his other siblings.

As a young man, Joseph received a dream from God about his life at the

THE DEFINITION OF PEACE.
The Hebrew word for peace is shalom.
This term is far more than the absence of war, conflict, or stress.
Shalom's basic meaning is the positive presence of harmony (i.e, unity, cooperation, good relations), wholeness, good purpose, well-being, and contentment in all areas of life.

(1) Peace can refer to calm and smooth international relationships, such as a peace agreement between nations that had once been at war (e.g., 1 Sam 7:14; 1 Kgs 4:24, 1 Chr 19:19).

(2) It can also refer to the settled and secure feeling that a nation experiences during a time of social and económic prosperity (2 Sam 3:21-23; 1 Chr 22g, Ps 122:6-71,

(3) Experiencing peace can include unity, cooperation, and contentment in
human relations, both inside the home (Prov 17:1; 1 Cor 7:15) and outside the home (Rom 12:18, Heb 12;14; 1 Pet 3:11.)

(4)Can refer to one's personal sense of wholeness and well-being, including freedom from anxiety and fear. This might be called peace within one's own soul(Ps 4:8; 119:165; Job 3:26) and with God (Num 6:26; Rom 5-1)

(5) Even though the word "shalom" is not used in Gen 1-2, shalom describes the original created world that existed in perfect harmony and wholeness. When God created the heavens and the earth, he created a world at peace. The total well-being of creation is reflected in the statement: "God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good" (Gen 1:31)

THE DISRUPTION OF PEACE.

When Adam and Eve listened to the serpent, were deceived by Satan, and ate from the forbidden tree (Gen 3:1-7), their disobedience introduced sin (i.e, defiance and rebellion against God and persistence in going one's own way without regard for God). In turn, sin broke the flow and order of creation's original harmony.

(1) When that happened, Adam and Eve experienced guilt and shame for the first time in relation to God (Gen 3:8), and they lost their inner peace.

(2) Adam and Eve's sin in the Garden of Eden destroyed their perfect relationship with God.
-Before their disobedience, they enjoyed a deep personal relationship and close interaction with God (cf. Gen 3:8).
-But after their sin, they "hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden" (Gen 3:8).
-Instead of looking forward to talking with God, they were now afraid of his presence (Gen 3:10).

They traded their peace with God for the false and temporary pleasure of their own way.
 -In addition, the peaceful and pleasant relationship between Adam and Eve as husband and wife was also disrupted.
-When God began discussing their sin with them, Adam blamed Eve (Gen 3:12).

God said that this sort of tension and conflict would continue between man and woman (Gen 3:16).

In fact, this sort of tension in relationships accounts for much of the social conflict that is now part of human existence.

This social conflict ranges from arguments and violence in the home. (Prov 15:18, 17:1) to international conflicts and wars around the world.

Finally, sin took away the harmony and unity between humankind and nature.

Before Adam sinned, his work in the Garden of Eden was a pleasure (Gen 2:15); he freely walked among the animals, giving each one a name (Gen 2:19-20).

However, following the fall (i.e., when people first defied God and sin took away humankind's relationship with God), part of God's curse included anger and hatred between people and the serpent (Gen 3:15).
In addition, people's work would involve sweat, exhaustion, and hard, physical labor (Gen 3:17-19).

Where there once had been harmony between the human race and the environment, there now was struggle and conflict, so that "the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.” (Rom 8:22)

THE RESTORATION OF PEACE.
Though sin affected human existence by destroying peace and well-being in the entire created world, God has planned to restore shalom. The story of restoring peace is what the life and message of God's Son, Jesus Christ, is all about. God sent Jesus into the world to make a way for peace between people and God. Jesus came to provide forgiveness and freedom from sin and the hope of a personal and eternal relationship with God.

1) Since Satan started the destruction of peace in our world, his power needed to be destroyed to regain and restore peace on earth. In fact, many of the OT promises about the coming of the Messiah (i.e., Christ) were promises of a coming victory and peace.
David prophesied that the Son of God would rule the nations (Ps 2:8-9; cf. Rev 2:26-27; 19:15).
Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would reign as the Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6-7).
Ezekiel predicted that the new covenant—or "life agreement” God planned to put into effect through the Messiah—would be a covenant of peace (Ezek 34:25; 37:26).
Micah, prophesying the Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in Christ’s birth of the coming world ruler from Bethlehem, stated that "He will be their peace" (Mic 5:5)

2) When Jesus was born, the angels proclaimed that God's peace had now come to the earth (Luke 2:12)
-Jesus himself came to destroy the devil's work (1 Jn 3:8) and to break down all barriers of conflict that prevent peace in our lives (Eph 2:12-17).
-Jesus left his disciples a lasting legacy of peace (John 14-27; 16:33)
-By Death and resurrection, Jesus clearly disarmed, or removed the impact of satan's powers and authorities in the spiritual realm, making true spiritual peace possible (Col 1/20; 2:14-15, cf. Ia 53(4 5).
-For this reason, after we believe in Jesus Christ, accept his message and sacrifice for us, and actively trust our lives to him, we are justified or made right with God and have peace with God.
-Even the message that Christians are to share with others is the good news of peace (Acts 10:36; Isa 52:7).

3) Knowing that Christ came as the Prince of Peace does not automatically bring peace to our lives.
-Experiencing peace with God requires that we be united with Christ by faith.

The first step is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
-This "belief" is more than just an intellectual agreement of acceptance.
-It is an active trust by which a person accepts Christ's sacrifice for sins and surrenders control of his or her lie to Christ leadership.
-A person who responds to Christ in this way is forgiven and justified (i.e., made right with God through faith Rom 3:21-28; 4:1-13; Gal 2:16)

Secondly… Along with faith, we must obey God's guidelines and obey his commands in order to live in peace (Lev. 26:3, 6). The OT prophets declared over and over that there is no real peace for the wicked (Isa 57:21; 59:8; Jer 6:14; 8.11; Ezek T3:10, 16)

So that we may continually experience God's peace, he has given us the Holy Spirit.
-The Holy Spirit develops the holy character and purposes of God in us, which include God's peace (Gal 5:22; Rom 14:17; Eph 4:34)

With the Spirit's help,
-we must pray for peace (Ps 122:6-7; Jer 29:7; Phil 4:7),
-let peace guide our hearts (Col 3:15),
-desire and pursue peace (Ps 34.74; Jer 29:7; 2 Tim 2:22; 1 Pet 3:11),
-and do our best to live in peace with others (Rom 12:18.2 Cor 13:11;1 Thes 5:13; Heb 12:14).

1) Manage the tension

Recognize that in this world, we will be living in tension. Manage the tension.

In John 16, Jesus is talking to his disciples and telling them how they will abandon him. He is simply speaking a matter of fact, as he knew what was about to come to pass. He ended the conversation with this…

She was unclean. By Levitical law, she was to remain away from people. She had exhausted all her resources on doctors with no answer. She had been separated from people for a long time.

There was a managed tension. She broke the rules, pressing through the people to touch the hem of Jesus’ robe. Every person she touched, she made “unclean,” but she didn’t care. She was going to get to Jesus…

2) Press into Jesus

You won’t always feel peace in the action, but you can receive it in His response.

When she pressed through the people and finally got to him, it was a confusing moment.

At an instant, she was healed. You’d think that’d cause great joy. That there would be peace because what she wanted for so long had been answered.

But what were Jesus's words immediately?
“WHO TOUCHED ME?”

3) Accept His Truth
“Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”

The peace comes in the faith.

What does the word of God say?
Do you actually believe it?
Have you put it into action in any way, shape, or form?

Peace comes when you put your faith into action.

You will experience what???

And His peace will guard your WHAT???

Can I be frank? I believe that many Christ followers don’t have peace because they are not living the life they claim to follow.

-No peace in family dynamics because we don’t even pray together, let alone discuss the word.
-No peace at work because the pursuit has become about retirement rather than righteous living.
-No peace in your finances because we aren’t honoring God with them, but instead trying to appease him. (How little can I do and still be “accepted?”)
-No peace in your marriage because it's more about who is leading than surrendering to God and following His Spirit’s lead.
-No peace at church because God is spewing you out of his mouth because we are hearing the word and not doing anything with it.

The list could go on, and usually, these faults aren’t even intentional. But are we willing to take an inventory… avoid the worry, pray about it…

Manage the tension
Press into Jesus
Accept His Truth

Here is the truth… the only way to truly have peace is to surrender to the Prince of Peace, Jesus!

And I mean surrender… The “God, I had plans, but what are your plans?” kind of surrender.

The peace of God is directly proportionate to your trust in God.

Yes, we have an adversary that wants nothing more than for us to choose to not trust in God, his redemptive plan, or his eternal reward. He is a defeated foe who is masterful at deception. He is the father of lies. Much like Eve…the enemy wants us to walk in doubt of God and his promises.

But I would encourage you to
Manage that tension
Press into Jesus
Accept His truth