1. Incomprehensible Peace
God’s Incredible Plan for You

2. Introduction Is your life stressful? How stressful?
The funny thing is …
Fear, anxiety, worry, conflict, turmoil, quarrels, economic failure, insecurity, etc.

3. God’s incredible plan: you possess an incomprehensible peace
First words to disciples: Peace be with you.

4. “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything
“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, NLT)

5. God avails to us a peace that “exceeds anything we can understand.”

6. We desire peace that comes because circumstances are good.
God gives us a peace that makes all circumstances good.

7. “this is a cheerful world indeed as I see it from my fair garden, under the shadow of my vines. But if I could ascend some high mountain, and look out over the wide lands, you know very well that I should see: brigands on the highways, pirates on the seas, armies fighting, cities burning, in the amphitheaters men murdered to please applauding crowds, selfishness and cruelty and misery and despair under all roofs.

8. It is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world
It is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a company of quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy which is a thousand times better than any of the pleasure of sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not: they are master of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are the Christians – and I am one of them.”
(Cyprian to Donatus)

9. Five aspects to a peace that exceeds anything you can understand

10. 1. Peace comes when you listen to Jesus speaking peace to your heart
First words of the resurrected Jesus to his disciples: Peace be with you

11. It was evening on that day, the first of the week
It was evening on that day, the first of the week. … Yeshua came and stood in their midst! And He said to them, “Shalom aleichem!” After He said this, He showed them His hands and His side. … Yeshua said to them again, “Shalom aleichem! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (John 20:19-21, Tree of Life Version)

12. Shalom Aleichem | Aleichem Shalom

13. Song: Shalom Aleichem

14. Peace upon you, ministering angels, messengers of the Most High; [messengers] of the supreme King of kings, the Holy One, (blessed is he); Come in peace, messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High; [messengers] of … Bless me with peace, messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High; May your departure be in peace, messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High;

15. When Jesus says it, it becomes so
When Jesus says it, it becomes so. The word of God that spoke the world into existence.

16. “Be still and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10)

17. 2. Peace comes through the Holy Spirit of God in you
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 

18. 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 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 14:25-27, NIV)

19. “Peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of God.”

20. The giving of the Holy Spirit is the giving of peace because the Holy Spirit is the presence of God.

21. “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7, NIV)

22. 3. Peace comes when you are motivated by your life purpose
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

23. We lose our stress when we live with a purpose rather than live to avoid pain or to pursue pleasure. What is felt as stress is transformed into courage.

24. Ambition versus Purpose / Calling When you pursue ambition, you have set yourself up for stress. When you answer God’s call to fulfill his purpose, you set yourself up for courage and peace.

25. 4. Peace comes when you accept the hardship
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, 

26. Do you God’s calling for you on hold when you go through hardship
Do you God’s calling for you on hold when you go through hardship? That is exactly the time you need to refocus on Jesus.
Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33)

27. “I am going through a financial crisis …”
“I am going through a divorce …”
“I can’t find a job …”
“My boyfriend, girlfriend just dumped me …”
“I am struggling with a health issue …”

28. The torn in the flesh

29. Cyprian’s story: “They are despised and persecuted, but they care not: they are master of their souls. They have overcome the world.”

30. When your problems take away our joy or peace it is because you have not yet surrendered that part to the Lord.

31. 5. Peace comes when you know the outcome of your life
“ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

32. When you pattern your life purpose according to God’s Word: to live-out the great command and the great commission, you are assured of the outcome of your life – you overcome the world.

33. Jesus: “I am the resurrection and the life
Jesus: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.”

34. Regardless of how bad the pain, the end is life and victory.

35. Conclusion
Peace comes when you listen to Jesus speak peace to your heart
Peace comes through the Holy Spirit of God in you
Peace comes when you are motivated by your life purpose
Peace comes when you accept the hardship
Peace comes when you know the outcome of your life

36. Peace with God before peace from God