Experiencing Peace

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Update From Your Pastors

It was wonderful to remember Christ on the cross this past Friday and to celebrate together His resurrection on Sunday. Even though social distancing keeps us apart, we are thankful we can still meet together through technology.

As we remember Christ’s glorious resurrection, we are encouraged to follow Him through any circumstance. Christ’s command to His followers to be witnesses and to make disciples is just as real today as it was nearly 2,000 years ago. Social media gives us a brilliant opportunity to share the Gospel like never before, so take every opportunity to share what God has given you to those around you.

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Prayer Points

  1. We praise God for our Easter service and the people who have and will watch it.

  2. Sean’s uncle is in hospital with COVID-19.

  3. For everyone to be in good spirits during this time of isolation.

Ministry Opportunity

This week we want to do something different, and we hope you can all be apart of it.
We want to begin sharing videos of you during our Sunday morning online church. Please record a video that is less then 1 minute long answering this question: “What brings me joy about my church?
Upload your video to this dropbox link.

Weekly Devotional

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The Fruit of the Spirit: PEACE

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

The third attribute of the fruit of the Spirit is Peace. Biblical peace has a wide range of understanding throughout Scripture including the notions of totality or completeness, success, fulfilment, wholeness, harmony, security, and well being. The Spirit dwells in every believer and is working to produce perfect peace. Christ promised that He would send Holy Spirit to teach us to find peace. Jesus says, “26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:26-27). Peace is the inner calm that results from confidence in your saving relationship with Christ. We receive it, but we still must learn how to grow and maintain that peace. Philippians 4: 6-9 is an important passage to study in order to learn our peace is maintained.

1. Anxiety is the Enemy of Peace (Philippians 4:6, 7)

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The greatest enemy to maintaining our peace is irrational worry. This type of worry can easily rob us of our peace if we let it. Paul reminds believers of a weapon that we can use in our battle with anxiety. He says to pray, but not just any kind of prayer. We are to pray a prayer which earnestly asks (supplication) for God’s provision. Please note that God does not promise to give us whatever we ask for, but He does promise to give us peace. The peace that God gives us will surpass our understanding and guard our hearts. When we worry we should pray and even if we do not pray for the correct things, God promises to to give a supernatural peace to those who share their real needs with Him. The peace of God will conquer our greatest fears.

2. Proper Focus Produces Peace (Philippians 4:8)

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

We tend to focus on the wrong things in life. This out-of-focus living can lead to worry and to a lack of true peace. When we allow ourselves to get distracted by work, finances, family problems, or even a worldwide pandemic, we take our eyes off of God and that is where problems begin. The prophet Isaiah speaks to this when he writes, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord for ever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock” (Isa. 26:3, 4). Our peace is maintained when we keep our focus on the Rock.

3. Practise Provides Lasting Peace (Philippians 4:9)

9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practise these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

We are not only to focus on good things, but we are also to put them into practice. If we only desire peace, but do not put in the effort to train ourselves, we have determined to fail before we begin. James encourages us to “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (Jam. 1:22). The Bible teaches us about God, trains us in righteousness, reminds us of who we are and encourages us to live out our faith. Our eyes must be set on God and peace must be put into practise. Remember that we are not attempting follow God’s Word alone because God promises that He will always be with us. The Apostle Paul concludes the book of Romans with a prayer that all believers should use when they feel troubled, “May the God of peace be with you all. Amen” (Rom. 15:33). Putting faith into practise will create lasting peace for all the children of God.

Questions to Consider

1. Is peace losing the battle to anxiety in my life?
2. Am I working each day to focus on the Everlasting Rock?
3. Am I putting into practise all that I have learned from God’s Word?