What Does it Mean That God's Love Is

Unconditional?
 Bible /

 Bible Study /

 Topical Studies /

 What Does it Mean That God's Love Is Unconditional?

R. Keith Whitt
Saturday, September 21, 2019
 Share  Tweet  Save

A pair of hands methodically began to scoop up the loose ground, moving it into a pile. When a sufficient amount of earth had been placed in
the pile, the hands began to move the earth around swiftly. The earth began to take a shape unseen before. When the earth had been
fashioned into the desired form, the Creator bent down, looked approvingly at the shape and placed His mouth over the earthen lips of the
form.
He breathed, forcing air into the earthen vessel He had fashioned. Suddenly, miraculously, the form responded to the breath and sprang to
life. Adam was aware that he was the culmination and climax of creation and that the Creator had just formed a special bond with him – a
relationship of love (see Genesis 2:7).

The Very Nature of God is Love

Volumes have been written about the characteristics of God, but when it is distilled to the most basic categories, He is love (1 John 4:8), life
(Jeremiah 10:10; Revelation 22:1), and holiness (Psalms 99:9). And in reality, His life and holiness are based upon and are an expression of
His love: love gives, so He gives life; love desires the best, so holiness proceeds from Him.
Love is not something he chooses to do or give. It is the very essence of who He is. He doesn't just love – He is love (1 John 4:16). It
motivates His every action, directs His activities, and reflects His desires (1 John 4:10). Love is the greatest and purest essence of who a
person is and its proper expression brings fulfillment.
However, God's love is not like the love expressed by many in our culture today: a love of convenience and ego. That is, "I will love you as long
as you add value to my life and please me. When that ceases, so does my love for you." For many, love is conditional. The conditions may be
different depending upon the relationship, but there are still conditions to be met in order to "earn" our love.
William Bennett, former Secretary of Education and author of The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories (1993), once said that
he attended a wedding where the vows had been changed to reflect this love of convenience. He decided to send a gift to the couple that
reflected their commitment to the marriage – a package of paper plates! He said he figured the package would last as long as the marriage.
This attitude stands in stark contrast to God's unconditional love, which never fails (Psalms 52:8), endures forever (Psalms 106:1), is
uncalculating (Proverbs 30:5), and not motivated by personal gain (1 John 3:16). Unconditional love does not mean that God loves everything
we do, but rather His love is so intense that He loves every sinner, no matter how vile and despicable he or she may be in the eyes of
humanity, so much that He provides a way for them to find love, life, and holiness (John 3:16). "Intense love does not measure, it just gives"
(Mother Teresa).

The Focus of God's Love is Redemption

Daily, Adam and Eve walked with God, until the desire for pleasure overcame their love for God (see Genesis 3). This break in the relationship
required redemption.
God's love (and our own!) is not an abstract ideal, but a concrete reality that finds expression. Love that is not expressed through the giving
of self, practical action and sacrifice is not love. Love must meet the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of those loved. It is costly,
brings vulnerability, and seeks the person's highest good (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
God's unconditional and intense love for fallen humanity motivated the plan of salvation (Revelation 1:5). Simply, salvation is God making us
whole or complete. It is a healing of the soul, bringing us back to the state of Adam when God breathed life into him and made him
a living soul. Separation from God, caused by sin, is separation from life. A person might have biological life, but not the quality of life God
envisions for us.
A few years ago I encountered Marc, a house painter. He promptly told me that he knew I was a preacher, but he didn't have much for
Christians or preachers because of some bad experiences. I quickly prayed for wisdom and said, "Marc, Christians are a lot like painters. Not
everyone who claims to be one is. Of those who are, some are better than others. And even the best make mistakes." He paused and replied,
"I've never thought about it like that." Our friendship continued to develop. One day, he called to tell me that he and his wife had given their
hearts to the Lord. He was amazed that he felt so alive and free. God's love brings cleansing, freedom, and wholeness. True love is liberating,
not restrictive. This does not give us a license to sin, but the freedom to serve God completely, motivated by love, and empowered by the
Spirit.
God's love motivates His compassion and mercy (love in action). His love brings transformation. Usually at baptism, the minister will quote
from Matthew 28:19 and baptize the person "in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." We clap, raise our hands, and
miss the truth of the event. It is more than a public expression of one's faith. At baptism, we are baptized (immersed) into the very character
of the Father (love), the character of the Son (grace), and the character of the Holy Spirit (fellowship; see 2 Corinthians 13:13).
Salvation is based on God's fervent love and mercy, not our worthiness (Titus 3:4-5). One response (in the image of Jesus Christ's offering on
the Cross) is that we offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God (Rom 12:1).

The Goal of God's Love is Relationship

Love requires relationship, as love is a dynamic force or presence that naturally seeks expression. Simply put, love loves! And in order to do
that there must be an object of that love or it is incomplete.
God's love is revealed in that He created us in His own image (a position of responsibility before God) and likeness (moral freedom; Genesis
1:26-27; Job 33:4). Part of that image/likeness is freedom of choice. We can choose to accept and embrace God's love or we can choose to
ignore or reject it. We were formed from dust, but because of God's great love for us, we received the breath of God, with its intrinsic and
inherent life. This life gives us the capacity and desire to be in relationship (understanding; self-awareness; communicative; ability to have
fellowship) and to love in return. To live in God is to live in love (1 John 4:16).
Our relationship with God is an intimate one. There is a sacred knowledge and expression that takes place. To know Him intimately is to
open the door for revelation and fulfillment. It brings change or transformation-change of essence, expression, behavior, desires, identity, and
security. The bond is so strong that God says a nursing mother may abandon her child, but He will never abandon us (Isaiah 49:15-16). He
becomes the ultimate Father!
When we reflect upon the intensity of our relationship with God, self-doubt often arises. Can we keep our end of the bargain? Of great
comfort (and a pressing challenge) is the thought that our relationship with God is not the sum of our activity directed toward God, but the
intensity of our relationship with God as expressed through our devotion to him, our obedience to his wishes, and our attitudes toward his will
and best desires for us. He loved us first, enabling us to respond properly to His love (1 John 4:10-11). And His love (and ability) never fails.
A young student asked Karl Barth to share the most significant theological truth he had discovered in all of his years of study. Barth, one of
the most prolific theologians of the 20th century, wrote approximately sixty volumes of commentaries and theological studies. This brilliant
man that many call the most important theologian of modern times thought for a moment, smiled, and said, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for
the Bible tells me so."
Nothing-absolutely nothing-can separate us from God's love (Romans 8:35-39)!

Now imagine this scene. You come upon the scene of a car wreck. Someone has pulled an injured person from one of the cars and looks at you and
says, "There’s still someone in there." As you approach the car, it bursts into flame. You realize that if you attempt to save the person inside, you will be
risking your own life.

You look through the car window and see that the person trapped inside the car is none other than your own child. What would you do?

Most of us wouldn’t have to think about it much, would we? Just about anyone in here would be willing to risk their life for the life of their child.

Imagine the same scene: car wreck, person trapped, car on fire. You look through the car window and see a small child inside. Would you risk your life
for this small child?

What if it were an elderly man inside the car? Would you risk your life for an elderly man?

OK, let’s go back to the wreck. Same scene. You look inside the car and you see… Osama bin Laden. Would you risk your life to save Osama bin
Laden? Would you potentially give your life to save that of someone that you might consider an enemy?

Strong sermons during COVID-19...

Try PRO Free ?
  
Enter your name and email to begin. Credit card required, cancel any time. Plus, get email updates & offers from SermonCentral. Privacy

Keep that thought in mind as I read the following verses again:

Rom. 5:6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though
perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were
enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Would you be willing to give your life for a good man? Would you be willing to give your life for a bad man?

Jesus didn’t wait until we were good enough. "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Jesus didn’t wait until we loved him enough. "While
we were enemies…" Enemies. Not family. Not friends. Enemies.

What a powerful thought. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have
eternal life." God sacrificed the life of His own child to save people who did not deserve it. Sinners. Enemies. Ungodly.

In Ephesians 2, Paul says we were dead in our sin. We had no hope. The only thing that saved us was the grace of God, through faith. It’s not
about our working our way back to God, it’s not about us climbing the ladder to salvation nor moving step by step through a checklist. It’s about
God reaching out to us and saving us. While this may seem to be merely philosophical reasoning, it all becomes practical when we put it back in
the context of Romans 5. Look at verses 1 and 2: "Rom. 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory
of God." It comes down to our having peace with God. Paul says we were reconciled to God. The relationship was fixed. The truce was signed.
Peace was declared. And Paul says that not only were we reconciled through Jesus’ death, but we have been saved through Jesus’ life. We
rejoice in this reconciliation that we have received.
When we have peace with God and know that we have peace with God, we can take whatever the world sends our way. We can weather the
storms of life with the anchor we have, the hope that the peace of God gives us. If we don’t have peace with God, we can never really have
peace. That promotion at work won’t bring it. Marriage to our perfect soul mate won’t bring it. Neither money nor fame nor power nor STUFF
nor anything else will bring peace. The only way, the one and only way, the one possible way to come to peace is to find peace with God.

Some of us haven’t found it. Our thoughts turn first to those who haven’t given their life to God. And it’s true. If you have not joined your life to
Christ’s life by being baptized into Him, you don’t know what peace is. Without the trusting faith that says "Here I am, Lord. I’ll do whatever you
say," then you cannot have peace. It can’t be done. You need to put your faith in God and part of that is putting on your Lord in baptism. Our
salvation is through faith, but through a living faith, an active faith, an obedient faith. Baptism does not add something to faith. It is a part of
faith.

But there are some of us who have taken that step, who have given ourselves to God, and yet we still don’t have peace with Him. Isn’t that right?
Some of us have been Christians for years and years, and yet we have this nagging doubt in our mind: "Is there something I missed?" Folks, as
long as we live with the idea that we’ve got to get every little detail right or God won’t accept us, we’ll never have peace. I told our Bible class a
few weeks ago that the easiest thing for a preacher to do is to make people feel guilty. You haven’t done enough of this or you’ve done too
much of that or you thought this or said that or… If I wanted to play with your emotions, I could easily do so. But would that bring you peace
with God? Does making people feel guilty about their inadequacies bring them peace with God? NO. Peace with God comes from understanding
that we are saved by grace through faith. Saved by grace through faith. Understanding that brings me peace.

Strong sermons during COVID-19...

Try PRO Free ?
  
Enter your name and email to begin. Credit card required, cancel any time. Plus, get email updates & offers from SermonCentral. Privacy

I have access to grace through my faith in Jesus Christ. He died to reconcile me to God. If I will put my faith in Him, He will not disappoint me. If I
put my faith in Him, He will give me hope, but not the kind of hope that says, "Oh, please, oh, please, oh, please let this happen." The kind of
hope that does not disappoint. The kind of hope that is actually certainty; it is only called "hope" because it is something that is still in the
future. I can know that I am saved. I can know that I am right with God. I can have peace with God.
  Peace With God  Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on May 26, 2006

     based on 34 ratings
  (rate this sermon)
 | 6,840 views
Scripture: Colossians 1:21-23
Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Summary: We can have and need to be at peace with God.

 1

 2

 3

 Next

INTRODUCTION

• SLIDE #1

• When you think of the word “peace”, what comes to mind? Do you think of tranquil settings, that relaxing day in the hammock in the back yard
under the shade tree? Do you think if the kids being at a babysitter for a few hours?

• Maybe peace for you is being out on the lake fishing?

• The dictionary defines peace as follows:

Freedom from war, mental calm, law and order, state of harmony

• How many of us would love to experience these things in our lives?

• There are different places and relationships in which we seek peace. There is peace between countries; there is peace at home, and peace on
the job, just to name a few.

• There is one relationship in which being at peace will determine more than if we are going to end up sleeping on the couch. There is one
relationship in which it benefits us tremendously to be at peace.

• If we are not in a peaceful relationship with our creator, we will struggle with experiencing true peace in other areas of our lives.

• There are a multitude of people who are not experiencing peace in their lives because they are at war with God.

• Last week we learned that God deemed that all things are reconciled to Himself through Jesus.

• We are told in Colossians 1:20 that God made peace with us through the shed blood of Jesus.
• I do not think that many people realize how important it is for us to be at peace with God. Many more do not realize they are not at peace with
God because they consider themselves to be good people.

 Download this sermon with PRO

• As we look at Colossians 1:21-23 today, we are going to learn some things about the issue of being at peace with God.

• SLIDE #2

• READ Colossians 1:21-23

• SLIDE #3

SERMON

I. WHY WE NEED PEACE. (21)

• The first thing we need to understand is that we have a definite need for peace with God.

• It is so easy to take God for granted because we do not see Him or speak to Him as we do other people. Think how easy it is to take your
relationship with your spouse or children for granted, and you can see and speak with them.

• When you are dealing with the invisible God, it makes it easy to neglect our relationship with Him.

• In our text we are given three reasons as to why we need to be at peace with God. These three reasons are shared universally by all of us.

• When we look at these reasons on the surface, some would object saying that they did not apply in their case. As we look at these three
reasons as to why we need to be brought back into a peace-relationship with God, I hope we will realize how important being at peace with God
is for us.

• SLIDE #4

1. We were formerly alienated.

• Before we give our lives to Jesus, we are alienated from God. This means that we are separated from or estranged from Him.

• It is like being separated from someone we were married to. We start off with a good relationship, and then something happens to destroy
the relationship.

• In our relationship with God, our sin is the one we cheat on God with.

• SLIDE #5

• It is spelled out for us in Ephesians 2:1-5.

• READ Ephesians 2:1-5

• Until you are immersed into Christ you are still alienated from God. In verse 20, we are told that the blood of Jesus is where we find our peace
with God.

• Until you put on Christ, you are alienated from Him, the relationship is one of being separated from Him.

• SLIDE #6

• Galatians 3:27 (NASB) 27For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
• The second reason we NEED to re-establish peace with God is:

• SLIDE #7

2. Our minds were hostile toward God.

• When we think if this point, how many of us would readily admit that before we came to Christ, that our minds were hostile toward God?

• What this is saying is that we were strangers to god’s ways of thinking and as a result of that, we lead a life of sin.

• What you think and what you believe is important because thoughts lead to actions.

• This hostility can manifest itself in outright rebellion against God to the subtle ways we ignored God in our everyday lives.

• Wrong theology leads to wrong living. If you do not believe me, look at the Muslim extremists; look at the cults that have ruined the lives of
many.

• SLIDE #8

• Romans 8:7 - 8 (NASB) 7because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not
even able to do so, 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

• Our minds set us against God.

• The third reason we need to re-establish peace with God is:

• SLIDE #9

3. We were engaged in evil deeds.

• This sounds harsh doesn’t it? What are evil deeds? What comes to mind when you think of evil deeds? In Romans 1:18-32, there is a pretty
good list of some of the extreme forms of evil.

• Remember that I have stated that there are only two kingdoms, the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan.

• Everything that we do that is in opposition to God is considered an evil deed. It is not just the extreme cases we tend to ease our minds with.
An evil deed is ANYTHING that stands in opposition to what God has told us.

• The mind set on the flesh leads to deeds of the flesh.

• SLIDE #10

II. WHY WE CAN RECEIVE PEACE. (22)

• Can we just stand before God when it is all said and done and negotiate our own terms of peace with Him? Can we dictate to God what He will
and will not accept as far as terms for being at peace with Him are concerned?

• Can we pay for our peace with Him?

• Can we tell God right now that He is going to be at peace with us now on our terms?

• WE need to realize a couple of things concerning receiving peace with God.

• SLIDE #11

1. It is a gift from God.

• The peace we can have with God is a gift given to us from God. He is the gift-giver. He is the one who sets the terms and makes the offer to us.

• SLIDE #12

• Romans 6:23 (GWT) 23The payment for sin is death, but the gift that God freely gives is everlasting life found in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Strong sermons during COVID-19...

Try PRO Free ?
  
Enter your name and email to begin. Credit card required, cancel any time. Plus, get email updates & offers from SermonCentral. Privacy

• God does want to be at war with you, He wants to be in a peaceful relationship with you.

• Until you have experienced it, you cannot imagine how good life is when you are right with God, when you are in a peaceful relationship with
Him!

• We also need to realize:

• SLIDE #13

2. The gift was paid for by the death of Jesus.

• Verse 22 tells us that we were reconciled to God through the death of Jesus.

• You did not purchase your gift so you cannot dictate the terms of acceptance.

• Jesus paid it all as the old hymn reminds us!

• SLIDE #14

III. HOW PEACE WITH GOD BENEFITS US. (22)

• There are many benefits to being at peace with God. Here are just four of them.

• SLIDE #15

1. Peace allows us to stand before God.

• Since we are sinners, we cannot stand before God on our own accord, we need to be in a right relationship with God so that we can stand
before Him. We can only do this if we care covered by the blood of Jesus!

• To “present” means to “place before, or entrust”

• Because of Jesus, we have been placed before Jesus. We will not get run off by security. Try to see the President without an appointment and
see what happens. Try to stand before God on your own and see what happens.

• SLIDE #16

• Ephesians 5:27 (NASB) 27that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she
would be holy and blameless.

• SLIDE #17

2. Peace with God makes us holy.

• When you belong to God, you are something special, you have a special purpose. Holy, in this context means to set aside to be dedicated to
God.

• SLIDE #18

• 1 Peter 1:14 - 16 (NASB) 14As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15but like the
Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

• SLIDE #19

3. Peace with God makes us blameless.

• We are perfect in the eyes of God. God’s grace takes up the slack for us. God sees us through the blood of Jesus.

• Blameless means that accusations just roll off us. Though Jesus, in God’s eyes, we are without blemish!

• SLIDE #20

• Philippians 2:15 - 16 (GWT) 15Then you will be blameless and innocent. You will be God’s children without any faults among people who are
crooked and corrupt. You will shine like stars among them in the world 16as you hold firmly to the word of life. Then I can brag on the day of
Christ that my effort was not wasted and that my work produced results.

• SLIDE #21

4. Peace with God makes us beyond reproach.

• Beyond reproach goes beyond blameless. It means not only that we are without blemish, but also that no one can bring a charge against us
(cf. Rom. 8:33). Satan, the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12:10), cannot make a charge stick against those whom Christ has reconciled.

• SLIDE #22

• Romans 8:33 (NASB) 33Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;

• SLIDE #23

IV. HOW WE ARE TO MAINTAIN PEACE. (23)

• Most every gift needs to be maintained. Being in a peaceful relationship with God is no different. Here are three things we need to do in order
to maintain peace with God.

Strong sermons during COVID-19...

Try PRO Free ?
  
Enter your name and email to begin. Credit card required, cancel any time. Plus, get email updates & offers from SermonCentral. Privacy

• SLIDE #24

1. We are to continue in our faith.

• To “continue” means to abide in. If we want to stay in a peaceful relationship with God, we cannot forsake our faith. We are never given
vacations from God.

• SLIDE #25

• John 8:31 (NASB) 31So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
• SLIDE #26

2. We are to remain established and steadfast in our faith.

• We need to grow in Christ and know why we believe what we believe.

• We need to stand firm in our faith, we cannot fall under pressure all the time.

• Da Vinci Code. PEOPLE FALLING AWAY?

• SLIDE #27

3. We are to cling on to the hope of the Gospel.

• What are you clinging to for the future? We need to believe in the promises of scripture; we need to place our hope and faith in the Word of
God!

CONCLUSION

• When we are at war with God, it will affect every other area in our life in a bad way. A right relationship with God is the foundation for
everything else we do in life.

• When you accept Jesus, you are telling God that you are surrendering your life to Him on His terms! Are you ready to be at peace with God?
  The Peace Of God

Contributed by Colin Coombs on Mar 18, 2006

     based on 6 ratings
  (rate this sermon)
 | 1,557 views
Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9
Denomination: Independent/Bible

Summary: A presentation concerning the Peace of God in our lives, with a view to a more complete
understanding and a fuller experience.

THE PEACE OF GOD

I PEACE IS A CREATION OF HEAVEN

a. WE LISTEN TO HIS VOICE

I Corinthians 14:33 God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. [ASV]

b. WE LEAN ON HIS PROMISE

Psalm 85:8 I will listen to you, LORD God, because you promise peace to those who are faithful land no longer foolish. [CEV]

II PEACE IS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE CROSS

a. IT COMES THROUGH HIS STRIPES

Isaiah 53:5 He was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! [NLT]

b. IT COMES THROUGH HIS SACRIFICE

Colossians 1:20 God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace . . . by means of his blood on the cross. [NLT]

III PEACE IS CENTRED IN CHRIST

a. HE IS THE ORIGIN

Ephesians 2:14 For Christ is our living peace. [JBP]

 Download this sermon with PRO

b. HE AIDS THE ONGOING

II Thessalonians 3:16 may the Lord of peace personally give you peace at all times and in all ways. [JBP]

IV PEACE IS COMPLETED BY FAITH

a. KNOWING JUSTIFICATION BRINGS US PEACE

Romans 5:1 since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, [NIV]

b. JOY COMES WITH PEACE

Romans 15:13 May the hope–inspiring God so fill you with perfect joy and peace through your continuing faith, that you may bubble over with
hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. [Williams]

V PEACE IS A CULMINATION OF FRUIT-BEARING

a. FRUITFUL GROWTH IS A RESULT

Galatians 5:22 The fruit of the Spirit is . . . peace, [NIV]

b. FRUITFUL GAIN IS A REALITY

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, [NIV]

VI PEACE IS A CONDITIONAL PROVISION

a. HOLY SPIRIT CONTROLLED THOUGHTS

Romans 8:6 If the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace. [NLT]

b. OUR SPIRIT COMPLETELY TRUSTING

Isaiah 26:3 You, LORD, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you. [GNB]
  The Peace Of God

Contributed by Tim Barrett on Jul 30, 2004

     based on 47 ratings
  (rate this sermon)
 | 5,533 views
Scripture: Philippians 4:4-7
Denomination: Pentecostal

Summary: A that reveals the 3 steps to peace that are outlined in Philippians 4. Also contains a great picture
object lesson for adults and children.

 1

 2

 Next

Philippians 4:4-7

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about
anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends
all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Big Idea:

Seeing things from Gods perspective gives us peace

Intro:

Hold up picture of anxious man.

(for actual picture go to

www.alcweb.org/index.asp?name=serphil4&type=sub

as this will not let me paste it here).

- What do you think he is feeling?

- What things do you think could have happened to make him like this?

- Does anyone feel like this man sometimes?

The Bible reading we have had talks about rejoicing and God’s peace.

What we are going to discover this morning is how to have God’s peace, even in hard situations.

 Download this sermon with PRO

If I taped this message and package it as the quick fix potion for peace in your life I would soon be a millionaire.

The reality is that it doesn’t work that way.

God desires to give us His peace but there are a few choices that we need to make along the way.

Let’s learn what they are:

Main body:

Read: 4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Question: can you remember a time when you have gone through a really hard time? Maybe it was family trouble or financial

- Do you remember how you felt in those situations?

- It’s a hard thing to rejoice when things are bad.

Explain:

- Luckily Paul says that we only have to rejoice when things are good.

- Hang on a second!! It says always.

- And he even repeats himself to make sure we get it.

- Don’t you want to give Paul a good slap around the head and say “but Paul that’s alright for you to say, you haven’t suffered any hard times
like me”

- We want to say it but we can’t, we can’t because Paul was writing this when he was in prison – facing execution

- No legal aid

- There were relationship problems between people in his church

- Other leaders creating problems for him

State: what Paul is saying is that even when the circumstances are not conducive to rejoicing we should.

Apply:

It doesn’t mean we have to pretend

It doesn’t mean we don’t get upset (time for mourning).

It doesn’t mean we can’t get angry as Jesus got angry.

It means that deep down, in the midst of the hardship and sorry we can still rejoice in what God has done for us.

No matter what happens, we still have that knowledge that God has saved us and one day we will live with Him in heaven forever.

Do you think that in 200 trillion years you are going to worry about your neighbour who persecuted you because you were a Christian?

Step 1) Imagine how God sees you situation

Read: 5Let your gentleness be evident to all.

Question: what does gentleness mean? If it went on being gentle I would fail.

I would like a dollar for every time Jo has said to me “Tim you are too rough” – hair brush

Explain:

- the key to this verse is the word gentleness

- The original word is complex and there is no one English word that we can use

- Gentleness means generous treatment of others even when they are treating you in an unjust way

- Very relevant to the Philippians who were suffering persecution

- sums up the Christ like way Paul has already encouraged us to emulate

- basically seeing people like God sees them

Illustrate: My shopping story

Apply: when things happen to you, especially when you are treated badly by other people because you are a Christian, we need to be filled with
grace and humility

Step 2) be humble and gracious to others

What encourages us to do those two things?

Read: The Lord is near

State: Jesus’ return should affect our outlook and actions

Question: what do you do when important visitors come around? Tidy, get ready, we have a joke when our house is messy that we need to
invite people around so that we clean it up.

State: the fact that Jesus is returning should motivate us to act like Him

Explain: early church didn’t know when Jesus was coming back

- the fact he was is enough

Illustrate: story of Dragar can you imagine how you would feel if you were Matthew? What if you were Dragar? Do you think Dragar deserves to
be paid?

Apply: Paul is reminding all of us not to slacken off before our master returns home.

Paul has told the Philippian church what to do; now he tells them what not to do. Usually they are the complete opposite.

- We are meant to rejoice, what is the opposite? To be anxious

Read: 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

step 3) is when we start to get anxious pray

Explain:

- often prayer is the 3rd or fourth thing after we have tried ourselves

- we are to ask God

- With thanksgiving – an attitude we have when we pray, we can have this attitude because we know that no matter what is happening, God will
ultimately bring good out of it.

- Sometimes the result is not what we want or expect but we need to trust God

What is the result when we do this?

Read: 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Question: what is the peace of God?

A quiet confidence within regardless of trials or circumstances

Explain:

- God helps us have an inner calm even when things seem out of control

- This is why it transcends all human understanding

- What does this peace do? It stands guard

- Paul was writing this with a guard next to him

Illustrate: the guard was there as a filter, he could let certain people pass but not others, he could let Paul do some things

Apply: Peace is the filter in our lives; it guards the 2 things that create worry

- our hearts – wrong feelings

- our minds – wrong thinking

It was this peace that helped Paul go through the trials that he did and still be able to rejoice.

State: when we see things how God sees them, exercise gentleness to others and pray we receive Gods peace.

We see this pattern repeated by many of the great men and women of the Bible lets look at one.

Illustrate:

The story of Daniel and the lions den is a perfect example of these 3 steps being put into practise.

Strong sermons during COVID-19...

Try PRO Free ?
  
Enter your name and email to begin. Credit card required, cancel any time. Plus, get email updates & offers from SermonCentral. Privacy

Read: Daniel 6:3-11

- Daniel had bad circumstances

- imagine if it were us – not allowed to pray or be killed

- What was Daniels reaction?

- when Daniel found out he didn’t go to the king, go into panic, he prayed

- notice he prayed asking for Gods help and with thanksgiving

- What would have been going through David’s mind as they were rolling the stone over the den?

- Verse 23 – he had trusted in his God even when his circumstances looked bad.

The outcome was that the king saw Daniels actions and this led to God being glorified.

Through the actions of our lives, God will also be glorified.

Conclusion:

- hold up anxious man

(for actual picture go to

www.alcweb.org/index.asp?name=serphil4&type=sub

as this will not let me paste it here).

- “none of us want to go through our lives like this man”

- Paul tells us to

- 1) step back from our troubles and see things from Gods perspective

- 2) continue to treat others well

- 3) pray – trusting God that He will bring about His will in our lives

- as we do this we start to go through life with less anxiety because we know God is in control

- our perspective on our situation changes to this:

It is then that we experience the peace of God which transcends all understanding.