Living In Light Of The Lord Of Peace

We're turning to 2nd Thessalonians chapter 3, 2nd

Thessalonians chapter 3, and we're going to read from verse 6

to the end. Second Thessalonians chapter 3,

2 Thessalonians 3:6

verse 6 to the end. In case anybody's wondering what

happened to 1st Thessalonians chapter 5, we'll resume those

studies in the new year after we've seen the New year end.

This, of course, is commonly associated as Christmas Sunday.

And I was in a person's house last week and they gave me a

little book. They said, here you are

Reverend, here's something for you for Christmas, something for

you to read. And the title of the book was

The Missing Peace and, and it was spelt P/E A/C E.

So that put the theme of peace in my head.

And we're going to be thinking today of the subject of the Lord

of peace. So that's why we're reading this

portion of Scripture. 2nd Thessalonians chapter 3.

We'll read from verse 6. The words will come up on screen

for those online. Now we commend you, brethren, in

the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw

yourselves from every brother that walk of disorderly, and not

after the tradition which he received of us for yourselves.

Know how you ought to follow us, for we behave not ourselves

disorderly among you, neither did we eat any man's bread for

naughty, but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that

we might not be chargeable to any of you, not because we have

not power, but to make ourselves an example unto you to follow

us. For even when we were with you,

this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither

should he eat. For we hear that they are some

which walk among you, disorderly, working not at all.

But our busy bodies Now them that are such we command and

exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work

and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary

in well doing, and if any man obey not our word by this

epistle, note not man, and have no company with him, that he may

be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy,

but admonish him as a brother. Now the Lord of peace himself

give you peace always. By all means, the Lord be with

you all. The salutation of Paul with my

own hand, which is the token in every epistle.

So I write the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Amen. Amen.

We pray God will stamp with his own approval and blessing this

reading of his own precious and infallible word.

My text this morning is taken from Second Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians 3:16

chapter 3, verse 16. Listen to the words now.

The Lord of peace himself give you peace always.

By all means, the Lord be with you all now.

If entitled today's message in the form of a question, Are you

living in light of the Lord's peace?

Now, as Paul wraps up his 2nd letter to these New Thessalonian

believers, he offers in this second letter 4 prayers for

them. The first prayer is found in

Second Thessalonians chapter 1, verses 11 and 12.

2 Thessalonians 1:11

Wherefore also we pray also for you, that our God would count

you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of

His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name

of our Lord Jesus Christ would be glorified in you, and ye in

him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus

Christ. That's his first prayer.

And then the second prayer is found in chapter 2, verses 16

and 17, and I let you read that prayer for yourself.

The third prayer is found in chapter 3 and verse 5.

He says, And the Lord direct our hearts into the love of God and

into the patient waiting for Christ.

And then a fourth prayer in the form of the words of verse 16.

Let me read it again. Ask yourself as you read, what

do these words mean to you now? The Lord of peace himself give

you peace always. By all means, the Lord be with

you all. I want you to notice that this

prayer, this 4th prayer, focuses on our Lord Jesus Christ who is

the ultimate source of deep, lasting peace in the world.

The peace of Christ is distinct from the world's understanding

of what peace is. You see, the Lord's peace comes

through redemption. It comes through being

reconciled with God. And the Lord's peace leads to an

inner wholeness and having Christ with us at our elbow as

an ever present help. This peace is an absolute

necessity, especially in the midst of persecution.

And this church was facing persecution.

This church was also suffering internal church strife.

There was unruly, disorderly members.

And in the midst of that, Paul says, now the Lord of peace

himself give you peace always by all means.

In other words, the peace of Christ is a great source of

comfort, a great tremendous soundness of mind and grace for

living obediently. This prayer shows that we must

depend on the Lord's grace and strength for every situation

that we face. So I asked the question this

morning, if you're a born again Christian, do you know anything

about this peace? You see, I put it to you, the

world knows nothing about this peace.

This peace is the opposite to what the world understands.

Peace to be the world's is carried to rise by a spurt of

restlessness. There's trouble, fear, anxiety,

conflict, war, bloodshed, which is the opposite, of course, of

what true peace is. And Jesus Christ, remember, was

born, come into the world, live the sinless life, died and

atoning death to bring peace to the earth.

And the true 'cause of this lack of peace, real peace, is of

course, sin. The reality is that many people

are at war with God, at war within themselves, and they

cannot have this peace because they do not know or have God as

the Lord of peace in their heart.

Remember, of course, sin disrupted the original peace in

the Garden of Eden, the entrance of sin.

It led to not only false religion, but it led to fear, it

led to quarrelling, it led to bloodshed.

Such was the effect of sin when we fell into an estate of sin

and misery in Adam. This is the state of the world

today, a state of conflict, restlessness, fear, anxiety, and

many other things. Now, as we live our life in the

world, as we live in this world, are we living in a state of

peace? Are we living in light of the

Lord of peace? That's the theme for today.

Three things very quickly. Look at the text now, the Lord

of peace. We'll pause there.

I want you to think of a recognition of the Lord's

person, the Lord of peace. Notice the clear title, the

emphasis is on the Lord's person.

Now the Lord of peace. We need to link it up with the

words in First Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 23 when he said

1 Thessalonians 5:23

and the very God of peace sanctify you holy and I pray

God, your whole spirit and soul and body, we preserve blameless

unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Notice the words and the very God of peace.

You see, here's one of the great proofs that indicate and teach

the true and essential deity of our Lord Jesus Christ.

One of the readings tonight will be from Isaiah Chapter 9 verse

Isaiah 9 · chapter mention

six. One of his titles is and his

name shall be called wonderful councillor, the mighty God, the

everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace.

It's a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ, and this prayer

and these prayers that Paul offered were offered to God

through the Lord Jesus Christ. And any and every honest reader

of the Bible would conclude that the Lord of peace is a reference

to the one who is known also as the Prince of Peace, the one who

came to bring peace on earth. And that one who's the Prince of

Peace is linked to the very God of peace.

And it this points us not only to a very distinct person, but

also to the essential and true deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.

So when you read the words, now the Lord of peace, you're

reading about our Lord Jesus Christ.

And the Christian's true peace doesn't depend on principles.

The Christian's true peace depends on a person.

In fact, our peace resides in him, because the Bible says in

Ephesians 2 and verse 14, He is our peace.

Now that's a tremendous statement, for He is our peace.

Think of the provider of our peace.

You see, our peace is not merely in a set of rules, a set of

principles, or a set of guidelines, but our peace

resides in a person. Here's the true ground of our

peace. Now I know it's impossible in a

sense to divorce peace from what Christ has done, The work of

redemption, the work of reconciliation, peace through

the blood of the cross. I'm well aware that the glory

and grace and giving of this peace, it's not only grounded in

what He's done, but also grounded on who and what He is

in and of himself. He is our peace because he's the

Prince of Peace. He's the very embodiment of what

peace is. This is the true peace that

belongs to the child of God. Think also of the purchaser of

peace we read again in the Bible, in the book of

Colossians, now this time in Colossians chapter 1 and in the

Colossians 1 · chapter mention

verse 20. And having made peace through

the blood of His cross, you see, when He came into the world as

the Prince of Peace, He purchased the right to be the

Prince of Peace to His people. He purchased the right to be the

Lord of peace. Through his perfect life of

obedience to the law of God and his sacrificial death, He

satisfied God's wrath and law. He purchased peace by the blood

of his cross that was shed in Mount Calvary.

God gave him the gift of peace to give to all who would know

and trust him as Lord and Saviour.

The Lord Jesus Christ, as the Prince of Peace, stands as the

mediator of the New Covenant. In other words, he he mean peace

between God and man. He's the only one true mediator.

First Timothy 2 and five. And he possesses perfect peace

in himself, and he gives it to us as the Father's gift.

This peace is not a mere feeling.

It's not a mere emotion, but it's a deep state of being.

You see, God could not just establish an arbitrary peace

between Himself and fallen sinful to humanity.

Remember, sin is the transgression of the law of God.

Sin is rebellion. Sin strikes at the holiness of

God, the justice of God, the grace of God.

Sin pays wages for the wages of sin is death.

Romans 6 and 23. Sin deserves a just punishment.

I said lovingly, sin deserves hell.

Psalm 9 and 17 says the wicked shall be turned into hell.

And all nations that forget God and the Lord Jesus come into our

world despite it's state and chaos, and he come into this

world to provide peace high by purchasing peace.

And here he's called the Lord of peace, the Prince of Peace, who

possessed perfect peace in and of himself in his own nature,

come into our world to purchase peace, the peace that was lost

in Eden in the fall. And he came as the mediator, He

came as the Redeemer, He came as the reconciler of man to make

peace by the blood of his cross between our holy God and sinful

man. I want you to think also of the

promise of peace. There's a famous text in John's

Gospel in John chapter 1427. He said to his disciples in the

upper room, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you

not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

You see, He not only provides peace, He not only purchase

peace, but He promises peace. And this is what He says.

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you.

Not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

You see, His peace is so different from the world.

The world's peace is false. It's superficial, it's

temporary, it depends on circumstances, but Christ peace

is deep, it's solid, it's durable, and glory to God is

independent of circumstances. You can have peace in the storms

of life, unlike the world's peace.

Christ peace holds firm in the midst of troubles.

You think of some of the getting news past days of cancer by the

doctor. You think of somebody who's lost

their job baby in the mouth of Christmas.

You think of somebody who's going through a a bad and a a

difficult divorce. You think of somebody who's

going through a day of trouble and remember this is a church

that was experiencing trouble, persecution from without, unruly

and disorderly members from within, false teachers coming in

and they're questioning the second coming and they're saying

to the people, your dead loved ones, forget about them.

They're gone. They'll never ever see them

again. And it's causing a lot of

consternation. And Christ comes as the Lord of

peace, who provides peace, who purchased it with this promise.

My peace I give unto you. I want you to think also about

the purpose of peace. In Jeremiah 29 and verse 11, he

says this. For I know the thoughts that I

think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not

of evil, to give you unexpected end.

Maybe right now, this morning, this Christmas, Sunday, you're

going through a dark and difficult period.

And what's missing from your life is the missing piece.

If you think of a jigsaw puzzle, it's not a complete picture

because there's pieces missing, maybe even one piece, P i.e.

CE. But I'm thinking about P/E A/C

E, the missing piece in people's hearts and lives.

And as far as you're concerned, your future's bleak and

blearing. Nothing's going right,

Everything's going wrong. You're facing hardship and your

difficult circumstances. And I say to you this morning

this don't be misled by your circumstances.

Don't depend on your circumstances.

Our circumstances change, including mine, just like the

weather. But ponder what is in the heart

and mind of God, this holy God He's saying to us today as far

as His purpose is concerned. For I know the thoughts that I

think toward you, saith the Lord.

Thoughts of peace. As God Almighty is in heaven

this morning, He has thoughts of peace toward those who are in

Christ. Not thoughts of evil, but

thoughts of peace to give you an expected end.

The Lord is thinking of His people this morning.

The Lord is thinking of you here with all your difficulties and

with all your problems. He is thinking of giving you an

expected end according to His will and purpose.

He's our heavenly Father. He's provided Christ as a

wonderful Saviour. For those who are born of the

Spirit are indwelt by the Spirit.

It's part of His Master plan. What tremendous encouragement.

I want you to think very carefully of the recognition of

the Lord's person, the Lord of peace.

The Lord of peace has provided peace how He purchased it, and

He promises it and He proposes it as part of His divine purpose

and plan. Notice secondly today if you

look again at our text. A revolution of the Lord's

profession. Now the Lord of peace himself,

what is he going to do? Give you peace always?

By all means, think of the word give.

Christmas is a time for giving, isn't it?

And we're thinking about the greatest gift of all now.

Thanks beyond the God for his unspeakable gift, the gift of

his Son, Jesus Christ speaks of profession.

And here's a revelation of God's provision.

And one of the things that God gives in Christ give you peace

always by all means. And the provision of the Lord's

peace has a threefold aspect and dimension.

Now remember, keep in context. These believers are going

through difficulty, and you're maybe going through difficulty

this morning. They're going through an.

Intense period of persecution, some were being martyred, put

into gaol. They're battling false teachers

that have come into the church. They're dealing with unruly

church members. Some church members because of

they heard about the second coming of Christ, they decided,

you know what, we'll quit our job.

We're not going to work anymore. We're going to go up to the top

of the hill and we're going to sit and we'll get our Bibles and

we'll read and wait until the Lord comes.

And then when they got hungry, then they come down knocking on

your door and saying, I'm hungry, have you any dinner?

And then they maybe brought the wife and the children and, well,

I, I have no money to buy food. Well, can you provide for us?

That's what was going on. And, and, and they were refusing

to work and provide for their families.

And each of these situations in themselves were creating

tremendous tension and strife in the church.

They were creating difficulty and division and it was

impacting on the individual, but it was also impacting on the

congregation. And yet, Paul.

When he prays the 4th time and it's interesting, it's only one

time in the New Testament. Only one time the Lord Jesus has

called the Lord of peace. There's only one time in the Old

Testament he's called the Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9 and six. So here we have a corresponding

text to 9 and six. In Isaiah, the Prince of Peace

is called now the Lord of peace. I'm well aware there's other

reference to the God of peace in the Bible that's a reference to

God the Father. I'll just read them out to you.

Romans 15 and 33. Romans 16 and 20.

Philippians 4 and 9, 1st Thessalonians 533, Hebrews 13

and 10. That's a reference to the God of

peace. That's a reference to God the

Father. And then of course, the Holy

Spirit is also the source of this peace because remember,

peace is part of the fruit of the Spirit He produces in US.

Galatians 522 and Romans 14 verse 17.

Romans 14:17

So all members of the Trinity are involved in this provision.

God is Father, Christ is the Prince of Peace, the Lord of

peace, and the Spirit of peace. The Hebrew word for.

Peace, you know, we, we meet each other in the streets down

in Belfast or wherever and we say hello, how are you?

And we have a little conversation down in Ballymoney.

I've said before they say, what about you?

Maybe other places have their own form of greeting, but over

in the land of Israel, when they greet each other, Jew meets Jew,

they would use the Hebrew word Shalom.

Shalom. Now what does that?

Mean well, it's a form of greeting, but it's more than a

greeting because that Hebrew word has got 3 senses or a

threefold dimension or three aspects that are interconnected.

The word Shalom means be safe. Be safe, brother.

Sister, it also means certainty. Be certain even in the midst of

difficult circumstances. And it also means enjoyment.

I hope you're safe. Brother, I hope you're certain

and fixed in who you believe in. I hope and pray, brother, you're

enjoying all the blessing God has for you.

Because that's the full meaning of that Hebrew word peace.

And you see that's. The way Paul means it, it's not

just the absence of strife and war.

But it's a. Reference to safety and

well-being. It's a reference to.

Inner wholeness and contentment and certainty.

It's a reference to. True contentment and enjoyment.

I want you to think of the security of peace with God.

The Bible says in Romans chapter 5 verse one.

Romans 5 · chapter mention

Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ. See peace with God comes as a

gift from Jesus Christ through justification by faith.

Christ peace starts with giving us peace with God.

It's an objective peace. It's a legal status of being at

peace with God through the forgiveness of sins.

The forgiveness of sins is not just a feeling.

Oh, I feel forgiven. It's a fact.

The Bible says in. Hebrews 10 verse 17 and thine as

Hebrews 10:17

sins and iniquities. Well I remember no more.

God is making a promise, putting the the sin in the sea of

forgetfulness, casting it behind her back, never to bring it up

again. All sin of thought, word and

deed remember what we are by birth, by nature, by practise.

We're sinners before God. We're hostile to Him.

We're we're in a state. Of war with him.

We're alienated from him by wicked thoughts and deeds, but

by His grace, through the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ, he

come into the world and He provides peace by purchasing it

and promising it as a gift. And here's his.

Purpose. To give you an.

Expected end. By his grace.

Christ purchase that peace by the blood of his cross.

See many people. Today, live without Christ.

They don't know him. And they have a false sense of

peace, not true and genuine peace, but a false peace.

And there's many reasons for that false sense of peace.

Many think too highly of themselves.

They don't see themselves as guilty sinners in need of

salvation. They think too lowly of God.

They know nothing of the justice and the holiness of God.

They just focus on God as love, that that's what they've heard.

They don't even know what that really means.

Many people have a. False piece of unbelief.

Why? Because they're ignorant of who

they really are. Ignorant of their true identity

before God. Ignorant of who God really is.

They don't read their Bible. They don't hear the.

Word of God in the House of God in the day of God.

I'll tell you better than. That they don't want to find the

truth. They don't want to know the

truth. And that's the sad.

State imagine somebody sitting in their sitting room and

they're about to be consumed by flames and you're shouting at

them get out before you're burnt to death and just remain

sitting. Or imagine you're down at Port

Rush or Newcastle and somebody sitting at the beach and you see

a giant foot of 20 foot wall of water coming heading toward the

beach and there's somebody about to be blown away by this tsunami

of water and you're shouting at them and they just remain

sitting there. But that's the picture.

A false. Sense of peace because of

unbelief, a false sense of peace because of their good works and

religious rites and ceremonies. There's nothing wrong with good

works and religious rites and ceremonies.

They have their place, but not the ground of salvation.

The Bible says for me grace, He is saved through faith, not, not

of yourselves, the gift of God, not of works, lest any man

should boast, Titus said. Not by works of righteousness

which we have done, but according to his mercy he has

saved us. And how many have a false sense

of peace, not only because of unbelief and ignorance, not only

because of good works and religious rites and sermonies,

but even a false piece of universalism if you ask them

about God. Do you know about God?

Yes, God is love. That's all they know.

They don't know that he's holy. They don't know that he's just.

They don't know that he's true. They don't know that he's a God

of wrath. That's all forgotten.

That's all ignored. That's overlooked.

People assume that their. Religiosity, their church

attendance, their good works will get them eventually.

To heaven and earn. Them a place there.

And they protest to. Me, and I'll tell you what they

say, but preacher, I'm not a mass murderer, preacher, I'm not

a rapist preacher, I'm a basically good person.

And of course there's. Plenty of people to come along

and tell them, ministers and elders alike, peace, peace when

there is no peace because they're ignorant themselves.

A false sense of peace is a real problem.

The Bible. Says there is no peace to the

wicked. Isaiah 57 and 2 Thomas Watson

said this one of the Puritans the.

Seeming. Peace a Sinner has is not from

knowledge of his happiness. But from.

Ignorance of his danger. It's like sitting in the room

and it's in fire. It's like sitting at the beach.

In the wall of water is coming. Peace that comes.

From Christ. Is peace with God that comes

first as a gift through justification by faith in Him.

This peace also comes through sanctification by the Holy

Spirit. We can read that in First

Thessalonians 5 and 23. We can't enjoy and know peace if

we're living an open sin and disobedience to His commands.

Many have tried and failed. Whenever David sinned with

Bathsheba, adultery, murder, lies, drunkenness, he was robbed

of peace. He was in a state of inner

turmoil. He was engulfed by fear and

despair. In other words, it impacted upon

Him impact them physically, mentally, emotionally, and

spiritually. Thomas Watson again says you

might as well suck health out of poison as peace out of sin.

If you would have peace, then make war with sin.

Go to Christ's blood for peace. Let the blood of Christ, which

satisfied and pacified the wrath of God, Let not pacify and

satisfy your guilty conscience. For if Christ's blood is sucked

in by faith, Christ gives peace, not only the security of peace

with God, but think of the speciality of peace of God.

This is a subjective peace, peace in the storms of life,

That inner wholeness I talked about, a soundness of mind, a

true contentment, a strength even in the face of great

sufferings. You see, Christ peace is such a

gift that you can hold firm amidst the trials.

Again go back to hearing about cancer or again hearing about a

divorce situation or hearing about a loss of job are hearing

about somebody falling in hard times and if people fall in hard

times, remember them, pray for them that the Lord will help

them do good to all men. The Bible says especially they

who are the household of faith and in the midst of this church

there was persecution. As I've said, there were those

who quit the job and were depending on the handout of

others. The response teaching about the

second coming and loved ones peace in the church had been

disturbed and Paul is writing to this church and he says now the

Lord of peace himself give you peace always, not only safety.

But also. Certainty, peace with other

believers, even if other believers are different.

And we're all different, aren't we?

And yet we're all special to the Lord.

You see, Remember, in Christ there's no distinction.

In Christ we read in Ephesians 2 and 14.

For He is our peace, who have made both, 1 and have broken

down the middle wall of partition between us, having

abolished in His flesh the enmity.

Even the law of commandments contained an ordinance for to

making Himself of Twain one new man so making peace.

Again in the book. Of Colossians in Colossians

Colossians 3 · chapter mention

chapter 3 and in verse 11 we read where there's neither Greek

nor Jew circumcision nor uncircumcision barbarian Cynthia

and Bond they're free, but Christ is all and in oh

different personalities, different backgrounds, different

perspectives and let's remember that sin rides resides in each

one of our hearts and we need to constantly work at peaceful

relationships and and that's what Paul was dealing with here.

There was those in the church who were behaving disorderly.

He mentioned that three or four times.

He mentions it here in chapter 3 verses 14 and 15.

There were those disciples who were unruly individuals that

refused to work, impacting family and friends and members.

And Paul wasn't aiming to achieve peace by covering sin.

No, he confronted sin. He, he, his approach was to deal

with sin and then to pray for the Lord's peace to be

experienced in every circumstance.

Think about the spirituality of this peace.

This inner peace is peace and difficult circumstances and

situations. This inner peace is brought

about through prayer. Remember what he says there in

the book of Philippians. He says in Philippians chapter 4

Philippians 4 · chapter mention

and verse 6, be careful for nothing, but in everything but

prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving, let your request

be made known unto God. And the peace of God which

passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds

through Christ Jesus. The peace of God is connected to

prayer and you can in prayer you can ask for this gift.

You can ask for this safety in Christ.

You can ask for this certainty. You you you can.

Ask for this enjoyment, praying to the Lord of peace to give

this peace to you so that you can know and experience this

safety, certainty and enjoyment. You, you're standing in Christ,

so often are standing in Christ. We're not so good.

At keeping with our spiritual experiences what the Lord is as

the Lord of peace. That's what he will be an actual

experience in reality. But we have to ask them the

spirituality of this piece and I finished this morning the

reception of the Lord's presence, not just the

recognition of the Lord's person and the revelation of the Lord's

provision, but think of the reception of the Lord's

presence. If you notice the text as we

finish, he says this. In.

Thessalonians, the Lord be with you all.

God with us. It's not what Emmanuel is all

about. God with us.

His promise is. At all times, in every way, in

all circumstances, in every situation, this peace is

continual. This peace is pervasive.

This peace addresses every aspect of life that this, this

promise comes from Him. My peace I give unto you the The

reception of the Lord's presence comes with a promise.

And what is that promise? I will never leave thee, nor

forsake thee. So with the promise here there's

a presence. The Lord be with you all.

You can rely. On the promise you can receive

His presence. You can rejoice in His presence.

He has promised He will never leave us nor forsake us.

His. Presence is real.

Could I say this? Morning as we finish in your

mind, it's an inner turmoil at this moment.

Don't focus on your troubles. Don't have a pity.

Party with yourself. Focus.

On this truth. The Lord of Peace.

Is with us. He's utter help.

This has to do with peace in the church.

Seek to be a peacemaker in the church.

Don't be engaged. In warfare and division, don't

be unruly, don't walk disorderly.

Be at. Peace in the home, lots of

homes, there's friction. There's little knowledge of the

peace with God, little knowledge of the peace of God.

So many of us live selfishly and live lives of self indulgence

where we need to come full and total surrender to the Lord.

We need to set aside what I think and what I feel and and

and and and and what I am of a mind to present.

This is also. Peace to do with the individual,

the Lord be with you all. It's not done to.

Pray this. Even though the Lord.

Has promised. I will.

Never leave you nor forsake you. Even though we know the Lord is

with us, it's right that we pray because we've got to constantly

have this experience, to know it experimentally that the Lord is

with us in the journey. So I finish with this.

Have you got peace with God? Do you know the peace of God?

Do you know this peace that Jesus gives?

The peace. Of justification by faith, The

peace of reconciliation through the blood.

Let your mind be. Filled with the Lord, His

thoughts for you. Don't let it be filled with

depression. Don't let it be filled with

turmoil, discord. This Christmas time, take to

heart these words now. The Lord of peace himself give

you peace always. By all means, the Lord be with

you all. There has to be a recognition

and a reception of the Lord's presence.

May the Lord take these few words and bless them to you this

morning. Thank you for coming, thank you

for listening, and I pray that the Lord will help us to know

this piece at Christmas time.