1. PEACE BEYOND BELIEF Philippians 4:6-7

2. Peace Beyond Belief  Last week we began a lesson on peace  The Bible taught us regarding peace:  God is a God of peace  We live in a world of strife  Evil and good cannot be at peace  We can have peace with God

3. Peace Beyond Belief  There is still so much more the Bible teaches about peace  It is my hope that we will understand the kind of peace God gives to us  It is also my hope that we can help others to understand that God offers a peace beyond belief…

4. Peace Beyond Belief  1. The peace of God is different  Jesus acknowledged that the peace that God offers is different from that of the world  John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

5. Peace Beyond Belief  1. The peace of God is different  The world looks for peace in the form of temporary pleasure  Drugs, alcohol, sex, money, and fame are all the world’s version of peace  Anyone who has dealt with those things and stopped will tell you they are not the solution

6. Peace Beyond Belief  1. The peace of God is different  When the doctor tells you that you have terminal cancer, there is no peace that the world can offer  When you lose a loved one in this life, there is no peace from the world  When you find yourself in financial ruin, can the world give you peace?

7. Peace Beyond Belief  1. The peace of God is different  The world offers a false peace, a false comfort, a false hope (Ps. 28:3)  The peace of God is different, it is real, it is eternal, it is a peace which “surpasses all understanding” (Phil. 4:7)  It’s a peace that only God can give and the world cannot match it

8. Peace Beyond Belief  2. The peace of God is for His children  We must understand that this peace that God offers is something that only His children know  John 16:33 – “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace”  Romans 5:1 – “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”

9. Peace Beyond Belief  2. The peace of God is for His children  Psalm 29:11 – “The Lord will bless His people with peace”  Isaiah 48:22 – “‘There is no peace,’ says the Lord, ‘for the wicked’”  Peace is one of the spiritual blessings found in Christ and a fruit of the Spirit (Eph. 1:3; Gal. 5:22)

10. Peace Beyond Belief  3. The peace of God resides in our hearts  It is our hearts and minds that the peace of God affects in this life  Colossians 3:15 – “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts…”  Philippians 4:7 – “and the peace of God…will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”

11. Peace Beyond Belief  3. The peace of God resides in our hearts  Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You”  Do you know why we view our childhood as such a great time of life?  Romans 8:6 – “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace”

12. Peace Beyond Belief  4. We are to share His peace  We have a responsibility to carry out this message of peace in the world today  We do that obviously through teaching the peace that God offers through Jesus Christ  Remember it is called the “gospel of peace” (Rom. 10:15; Eph. 6:15)

13. Peace Beyond Belief  4. We are to share His peace  Jesus said “Blessed are the peacemakers…” (Matt. 5:9)  Paul encouraged us to “pursue the things which make for peace” (Rom. 14:19)  Peace is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22)

14. Peace Beyond Belief  4. We are to share His peace  We are taught to strive for peace within the body of Christ (Eph. 4:3; II Tim. 2:22)  God hates “one who sows discord among brethren” (Prov. 6:19)  We should also seek peace with all men (Rom. 12:18; Heb. 12:14)