This sermon is from the series WHAT FAITH KNOWS ABOUT GOD and was preached at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Cherry Log, Georgia on January 5, 2014 by Pastor Paul Mims. You can hear this sermon at www.csbccl.org PEACE Psalm 23:2 There is a make believe story about a clock maker who built a magnificent grandfather clock that not only kept time, but could think as well. Soon after the clock was delivered to its owner, it began to philosophize. The clock thought, I m going to tick twice every second. This means that I must tick 120 times a minute, 7,200 times every hour, 172,800 times each day. It also means that I will tick 63,072,000 times in a year! After making these calculations, the clock collapsed with a nervous breakdown. The owner returned the clock to the builder for repairs. While the clock was in the shop, it analyzed its problem. Eventually, it reached the conclusion that all it had to do was tick twice each second, and any selfrespecting clock can do that. The rest would take care of itself. Today, the philosophical clock is ticking away, keeping perfect time, and it looks like it will be in mint condition a hundred years from now. The medical community often reminds us that a major cause of heart attacks is not only physical exertion but the mental and emotional stress under which we live. One of the things we crave is Peace. Daniel Goldman, who covers behavioral and brain sciences for the New York Times authored a book entitled EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE. He said that emotional intelligence is a different way of being smart that includes things like knowing what you are feeling and using those feelings to make good life decisions with integrity. It s managing distressing moods, like
calming yourself when you are anxious, or controlling your anger, or expressing it appropriately. It s motivation, staying hopeful and optimistic despite setbacks and failures in your life. It s empathy, being able to take another person s perspective and at least, to sense what they are feeling without having to tell you. And it is social skills, getting along with other people and handling emotions in relationships smoothly. Dr. Goldman says that in the last decades Americans have become less emotionally intelligent and less able to cope effectually with life. So, one of our greatest needs in our society today is for personal peace. The Bible indicates that we must have peace with God in order to have inner peace. I. WE MUST HAVE PEACE WITH GOD. He makes me lie down in green pastures David meant that God had done something supernatural in his life that gave him that peace with God. Phillip Keller, in his book, A SHEPHERD LOOKS AT PSALM 23, says that because of the make- up of sheep that it is almost impossible for them to be made to lie down unless four requirements are met. Sheep will not lie down unless they are free from all fear. They have to be free from friction with other sheep. They have to be free from flies or parasites. And they have to be free from hunger. The striking thing about this is that only the shepherd can make them free from fear, friction, flies, and the hunger for food. When the Divine Shepherd is near and we know it we are free from extreme fear. For God has not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7) There is normal fear. It directs us to look both ways before crossing a busy street. Abnormal fear causes us not to cross the street at all.
James Dobson tells about his friend Steve Smith, who won a bronze star for courage in the Vietnam War. But the first time that his unit arrived there they were terrified soldiers. They had never seen actual combat before. They dug their foxholes on a hill and nervously watched the sun set. They were told to expect the enemy about midnight. As that hour approached, gunshots started. All the soldiers started firing frantically and throwing hand grenades into the darkness. The battle raged through the night and they appeared to be winning. They couldn t wait for dawn so that they could begin the body count. But when it was daylight, they did not see a single Viet Cong. In fact, not one enemy soldier had even fired on them. These new soldiers had fought for almost six hours. The only enemy was their fear. We all have fears that cause us to fight phantoms during the night. But if the Lord s presence calms our fears and removes them from us we can lie down in peace. We cannot get God s help in a permanent way until we make our peace with him through Christ. Duke University did a study on "peace of mind." Factors found to contribute greatly to emotional and mental stability are: 1) the absence of suspicion and resentment. Nursing a grudge was a major factor in unhappiness. 2) Not living in the past. An unwholesome preoccupation with old mistakes and failures leads to depression. 3) Not wasting time and energy fighting conditions you cannot change. Cooperate with life, instead of trying to run away from it. 4) Force yourself to stay involved with the living world. Resist the temptation to withdraw and become reclusive during periods of emotional stress. 5) Refuse to indulge in self-pity when life hands you a raw deal. Accept the fact that nobody gets through life without some sorrow and misfortune. 6) Cultivate the old-fashioned virtues--love, humor, compassion and loyalty. 7) Do not expect too much of yourself. When there is too wide a gap between self-expectation and your ability to meet the goals you have set, feelings of inadequacy are inevitable. 8) Find something bigger than
yourself to believe in. Self-centered egotistical people score lowest in any test for measuring happiness. He also, makes me lie down in green pastures by giving me the victory over the daily irritants that come my way. Just as the flies and other insects bother the sheep they also bother us. But these are flies of the mind. They are thoughts that irritate us with their buzzing through our minds. It is possible to get so fixated on them that we cannot find rest. But the relationship with the Lord overrides the irritants and gives us peace. It is not something we do for He makes me... Friction with others also robs us of our peace. Human relationships are one of our constant concerns. It is vital that we be at peace with others in our home. We cannot be at peace until we are at peace with our family. But the Lord enables us to be what the others in the family need. Family relationships must be constantly nourished to be at peace. Is there someone with whom you have friction and it is robing you of peace? Proverbs 16:7 says, When a man s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him. Sheep will not lie down if they are hungry and have to search for food. Have you ever had to worry where your next meal was coming from. The shepherd leads the sheep to green pastures where the food is abundant. The Lord supplies our need both physically and spiritually. The green pastures of his grace are more than adequate. II. WE HAVE TO BE AT PEACE WITH OURSELVES. He leads me beside the still waters There is not very much stillness in our lives today. From the time we get up in the morning to the time we go to bed someone is talking either on the radio, telephone, or television and it is difficult for us to be alone and quiet. We were not made to be constantly distracted.
We were made for fellowship with God and we will not be at peace with ourselves until we are able to be alone with Him. It all depends on our thirst. David paints a picture of the shepherd leading the sheep to drink from waters that are still and non- threatening. If the current is swift, the sheep could fall in and drown. The shepherd will not lead his sheep to drink from dangerous waters. There is something so calming about being beside a beautiful body of water the ocean when it is calm, a lake, or a river when the current is hardly detectable. That is why we seek out such places for our getaways or retreats. The green pastures are the place where we feed. For the Christian it is the Word of God. We open the Book and God speaks to us. We assimilate its truths into our lives. But we must have more. The still waters is the place where the Holy Spirit does his work in our lives. Through appropriating the scriptures in our lives and applying them to daily situations the Holy Spirit creates peace within us. When the Lord leads us beside the quiet waters we are given spiritual drinks that calm us within. We are at peace with others. We are at peace with ourselves. We are at peace with God. We have all struggled and watched others struggle for peace through the emotions of fear, love needs, sorrow, jealously, envy, self - centeredness, ambition, frustration, rage, resentment, and hatred. These are powerful emotions that rob us of peace. You can find most of them listed in Galatians 5:19-21, where they are called the fruit of the flesh. That is, they are coming from our lower sinful nature. Unless they are dealt with according to biblical principles, we will never find green pastures or quiet waters. But look in the following verses to see the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-25. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, PEACE, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self- control Those who belong to Christ have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. These are the quiet waters. Have you noticed that the people who seem to be more at peace with themselves are people who spend time alone with God? Every Christian needs to have daily green pasture time with the Bible and a still water time in prayer. This is the way to personal peace. This is the way to Divine guidance. This is the way to that awesome strength that only The Lord can give us. Here are some scriptures on Peace: I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16.33 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. Romans 8:6 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:15 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14.27 Don t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace. Psalm 29:11 The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Romans 5:1 May the God of hope fill you all with joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13 May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Henry Van Dyke wrote: With eager heart and will on fire, I strove to win my great desire. Peace shall be mine, I said: but life Grew bitter in barren strife. My soul was weary, and my pride Was wounded deep: to Heaven I cried, God grant me peace or I must die, The dumb stars glittered no reply. Broken at last, I bowed my head, Forgetting all myself and said, Whatever comes, His will be done And in that moment Peace was won! PRAISE BE TO HIS NAME!