1. Real Peace, No Fear John 14:27-31 Real Peace In Spite of a Vacillating World In Spite of an Absent Jesus In Spite of Satan’s Activities

2. Real Peace  Not a situation marked by outward peace!  Not a situation marked by inward peace! Real Peace, No Fear John 14:27-31

3. A Positive Inspirational Personal Growth Stories A picture of peace There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked and he had to choose between them. One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror, for peaceful towering mountains were all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

4. The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell and in which lightening played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all. But when the King looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest in perfect peace. Which picture do you think won the prize? The King chose the second picture. Do you know why? 'Because' explained the King, 'peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace.' Author Unknown

5. Real Peace  Not a situation marked by outward peace!  Not a situation marked by inward peace!  The disciples were deeply distressed and very afraid!  Troubles without!  Troubles within!  Jesus Gives Them A Legacy To Hold On To! Real Peace, No Fear John 14:27-31

6. Real Peace  This peace that Jesus gives is real peace.  It meant spiritual health and well being.  This meant all was well with the creator.  It meant that they could look at things from the Sovereign’s perspective and not their own.  This is exceptional and supernatural peace!  It would be present in His own in spite of …. Real Peace, No Fear John 14:27-31

7. In Spite of a Vacillating World  There is a contrast between the way the world gives and the way Jesus gives!  What are the gifts that the world gives?  Insincerity  Impotence  Scantily  Selfish motives  To those who don’t need or don’t want the gift  Those that are taken back again Real Peace, No Fear John 14:27-31

8. In Spite of a Vacillating World  What are the gifts that Jesus gives?  Sincerely - out of genuine love for His own  Effectively  Bountifully  At great personal cost  To those who clearly need His gifts  In the Bible, peace is a positive blessing, a right relationship with God from which all other good things follow. Real Peace, No Fear John 14:27-31

9. In Spite of a Vacillating World  This all flows from peace with God.  But now His own can enter into the peace of God.  This is the personal peace that Jesus Himself enjoyed while here on earth.  There are two characteristics of this peace:  Based upon one’s intimate knowledge of God  Peace entirely independent of circumstances Real Peace, No Fear John 14:27-31

10. In Spite of an Absent Jesus  This peace was to be present in Christ’s followers in spite of His physical absence.  Two reasons the disciples should be at peace even though Jesus is going to be absent physically:  It would be better for Jesus (again with the Father) – Philippians 2:5-11 Real Peace, No Fear John 14:27-31

11. Philippians 2:5-11 (NASB) 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

12. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

13. In Spite of an Absent Jesus  This peace was to be present in Christ’s followers in spite of His physical absence.  Two reasons the disciples should be at peace even though Jesus is going to be absent physically:  It would be better for Jesus (again with the Father) – Philippians 2:5-11  This arrangement would be better for the disciples also (the indwelling Holy Spirit) Real Peace, No Fear John 14:27-31

14. In Spite of Satan’s Activities  The peace of Christ is present even in the face of Satan’s activities.  The prince of this world is Satan.  Satan is moving even at this moment in Judas to betray Jesus and He is okay with that!  It was His time!  Satan could do nothing to Jesus (there was no sin in Him for Satan to latch on to). Real Peace, No Fear John 14:27-31

15. Application Jesus has left a great legacy of peace for us! Have you entered into that legacy by giving yourself to Christ and His once for all sacrifice? Today can be the day of your salvation! Real Peace, No Fear John 14:27-31

16. Application Are you kept in peace? The physical like illnesses or trials can keep us from such an inheritance, As can, the spiritual like temptations or ignorance. Is your God too small? Or, is your God the Sovereign who works all things according to His plans? Real Peace, No Fear John 14:27-31

17. Isaiah 26:3 (NASB) 3 The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 (NIV) 3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.