Garwood Presbyterian Church

God's Gift of Peace

Mat. 5:9, John 1:9-14, Romans 5:6-8, Col. 3:12-14

Introduction - God wants you to have peace.

1. How Much Peace Do You Have?
   1. With God?
   2. With Yourself?
   3. In your Relationships?
   4. As a Peacemaker?
2. To Have the Peace God Wants Us to Have -
   1. We first need to have peace with God.
   2. Then we can have peace with ourself.
   3. Then we can have peace in our relationships.
   4. If we get this far, we can work for peace between groups and nations as a peacemaker.
3. How to Have Peace with God
   1. Col. 1:19-22 says that we have peace with God through Jesus' blood shed on the cross.
      1. John 1:9-14 says we can make this true in our life by believing and receiving Jesus.
   2. This brings God's Spirit into our life where we can grow the Spirit's fruit of peace.
   3. Phil. 4:6-7 says we can have God's peace if we pray.
   4. Learning and applying God's Word to our life gives us wisdom which produces peace.
4. How to Have Peace with Ourself
   1. A personal relationship with God enables us to experience God's love for us.
      1. God loves us through forgiving us through Christ.
   2. We need to love ourself like God does through forgiving ourself.
   3. As we become a new person in Christ through following the Holy Spirit within us and God's Word from outside of us, we will experience more of God's peace.
5. How to Have Peace in our Relationships
   1. Our inner peace will keep us from reacting to others.
   2. Following "The Golden Rule for All Relationships" produces peace in relationships.
      1. Ephesians 4:15, "speak the truth in love."
   3. Have a servant's attitude and help those you know.
   4. Forgive the people you know.
   5. Admit when you are wrong.
      1. Summary - If we get this far, we will experience a life of peace. But to leave a wonderful legacy of peace on earth, become a peacemaker between groups of people and nations.
6. How to be a Peacemaker
   1. Matthew 5:9
   2. Pray for peace.
   3. Support organizations that work for peace between groups of people and nations.

Conclusion - Jesus said, "Peace be with you." He also said "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you." God wants you to have His peace.