Grace and Peace Be With You
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org
SLIDE 1
SCRIPTURE READING
Galatians 1:3-5
3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
INTRODUCTION
I. GRACE AND PEACE TO YOU
a. From God
i. our Father and Jesus Christ
ii. who gave himself for our sins to rescue us
1. from the present evil age
iii. This is God’s will
1. That ALL are saved!
b. Do you have the grace that has been given to you?
i. Grace = unmerited favor
ii. are you showing favor to those who don’t deserve it?
1. such as forgiveness
2. help
a. Jesus said, what you do to the least of these, you are doing to me...
iii. Not just having God’s grace, but showing it to others is how you share the fact that God loves them.
c. Do you have the Peace that has been given to you?
i. Being still in times of trouble
1. Be still and know that I am God
2. This shows your faith in God is GREATER than anything that can happen in your life!
ii. Do you show this peace to others?
1. We need to show others how “trustworthy” God is
2. We need to show others they too can trust in Him with all their troubles.
3. We witness to others how GREAT and MIGHTY and IN CONTROL God is when we show the peace which God has given us.
II. TROUBLING TIMES
a. 9/11 nine year anniversary
i. time has passed but many still hurt
b. Times were troubling in Daniels time but he remained faithful
i. are we?
c. Times were troubling in Jesus’ time...how did He act?
i. Did Jesus picket with “God hates you” signs?
ii. What did Jesus do in troubling times?
1. He trusted our Father in heaven
2. He preached the Gospel of love
3. He did not hate nor attack...
a. with the exception of the temples where men were standing in the way of people trying to reach God.
4. He commanded Peter to “put away your sword, those who live by the sword shall die by the sword.”
5. He would not allow the Apostles to call on the heavens to rain down fire when the Samaritans would not the Apostles cut through their land.
6. why?
III. WE BATTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD
a. facebook post on 9/11
i. Today, let us all pray for the families who have lost loved ones, not
just at the towers, but around the world because of violence, war, and
hate. Let us also remember that we battle not against flesh and blood, but our fight is a spiritual one. This fight will only be won through true forgiveness, compassion and love.
just at the towers, but around the world because of violence, war, and
hate. Let us also remember that we battle not against flesh and blood, but our fight is a spiritual one. This fight will only be won through true forgiveness, compassion and love.
b. Ephesians 6:10-18 makes it clear;
c. PROMISES things will get WORSE
i. We are told in the scriptures that things are going to get worse.
ii. The end times are quickly approaching.
iii. But we should not fear!
CONCLUSION
John 17:1-7
John 14
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God[a]; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going."
Jesus the Way to the Father
5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really knew me, you would know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
