The Gift of Peace - Part 1 of 2

In this is Sarah Bradley Junior inviting you to stay tuned for another message of God's sovereign grace and be in and in a and and will and he will and will be forwarded to the mail that we received from our listeners, as many share with us what the message is meant to them and I would encourage you to write, letting us know that you have listen to the broadcast I want offer again today a booklet that we have made available over the last couple years.

At times, entitled some things you need to know about God. Periodically, you may talk to people who have little understanding of the very basics of what the Bible teaches about who God is, the fact that God is holy fact that God has a law that there is a penalty for the violation of his law and that man is unable to make himself right with God that it must be entirely by grace that sinners are saved in to the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. You might have a friend you been conversing with and you would like to have this book available to give to them. I will send it to all who requested this week address your letter to the Baptist Bible.

Our box 17 old, 37, Cincinnati, OH 45217 just request the booklet. Some things you need to know about God and we will send it on to you. Been working our way through the gospel of John have read about many miracles have read a number of the messages delivered by Jesus have seen his interaction with his disciples. Now were coming down toward the end of his life. In fact, in the 14th chapter of the Gospel of John is just hours away from his crucifixion. It's very interesting to observe that though he knows exactly what is ahead. He knows the suffering that he will endure that his concern is not about himself but about his disciples that he's leaving behind a tree, beginning with the 26 verse of John chapter 14, but the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the father will send in my name, he shall teach you all think and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You've heard how I said unto you. I go away and come again unto you, if he loved me you would rejoice because I said I going to the father for my father is greater, and now I have told you before come to pass that when it is come to pass. He might believe.

Hereafter I will not talk much with you, for the prince of this world, and hath nothing in me, but that the world may know that I love the father and the father gave me commandment. Even so, I do arise, let us go hence, the first thing we look at here is in verse 26 the work of the Holy Spirit, the comforter of the words connected with what the Holy Spirit does what he means to his people he described as the comforter is the helper he's the instructor's guide, the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost. The father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you the Holy Spirit that is given by the father in the name of Jesus the spirit of truth is sent to give guidance and direction so that when Jesus departs from them. They are not left alone. They're not left in darkness the spirit of God will accompany them and be in them. In the 17th verse Jesus and said, even the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it see of him not, neither know with him, but he no forking dwelling with you, and shall be in you. So the spirit is called the spirit of truth, because he will reveal the truth, he will guide these in the true still today guiding God's people in the way of truth. So we see that the triune Godhead is involved in the teaching of his people because the Holy Spirit is given by the father and given in Jesus name.

Man does not come to the truth on his own. Second Timothy chapter 3 verse seven says he is ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. That's exactly what we observe in the world falls in the printed letter the world by wisdom knew not God with all of man's most of the accomplishments with his claim to great intelligence. The fact is that though he is ever learning, coming up with new ideas and philosophies. He does not come to the knowledge of truth. Now there was truth going to be made known to the disciples following the resurrection of Jesus. There are a lot of things Jesus had spoken about death had spoken about his resurrection and spoken about numerous things and they failed to fully grasp much of what he said they were still so enamored with the idea that since they believe Jesus was the Messiah that he had come to set up an earthly kingdom and they were excited about that because they wanted to be a part of that visible kingdom. They were constantly questioning what their position would be one saying I want to sit on the right hand, the other on the left.

I want have a big place in this kingdom, showing how even though these were men chosen by Jesus to the special work there will carnal nature had the upper hand. Many times, and how easily that can happen with us and we can say I love Jesus Christ committed to following him.

I want to serve him in the flesh gets in the way we get concerned about our position about being recognized not being appreciated about a variety of other things that can keep us from full dedication to Jesus Christ.

So there were things that Jesus had said to them, talk to them that they do not fully understand. But it would be made known to them.

Following the resurrection and following the fact that the Holy Spirit came in his fullness on the day of Pentecost as an example, John chapter 12 verse 16.

These things understood not his disciples at the first is has reference to the prophecy that came from the book of Zechariah about him riding the donkey into the city. As it says fear not, daughter of Zion, the whole by King cometh sitting on an ashes: now these things understood not as disciples. At first, but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered that these things were written of him and that they had done these things on the him so at the given time when Jesus rode into the city.

It was not writing a horse, giving the impression of nobility as they might've expected, but writing the little beast of burden coming in humility and there was much about it. They just didn't comprehend. But after he was glorified after his crucifixion after his resurrection again. Think back and say why yes, that was the fulfillment of what is found in the prophecy of Zechariah and so the spirit of God would guide them and teach them. He taught the apostles. He taught them in a very special and personal and unique way.

In John 16 and the 13th verse, howbeit when he, the spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, and he will show you things to come.

The Holy Spirit called the apostles taught him explicitly the things they needed to know because they were going to be used to write the Scriptures. They were inspired and led and directed by the Holy Spirit, they didn't sit around and say well, now I can recall what happened on this particular day, but I'm not real sure my memories is a little foggy. I'm not certain what what exactly did Jesus say it wasn't left that kind of human recollection, all of us can testify to the fact that you think back to something that happened a year ago or two years ago and you're trying to put the details together and if you begin to express yourself and some other family members are present who were there with you. They'll immediately take you know that's not the way it was, you forgot this part. Only I realize I left that I know you got this wrong and you have a variety of opinions as you try to recapture what happened then what was said it wasn't left to chance for these apostles to be able to recall clearly are to be able to reason along themselves. This is the way I think it happened we actually have what Jesus talked as they wrote the Gospels and were directed to the spirit of God to do so.

They were given the truth. The words that were spoken by Jesus the truth that must proclaim so we can have absolute assurance, we turn to the Scriptures, we are not just reading man's opinion or their speculation or guesswork about what may have been said or done. We have the truth. Apostle Paul writes in second Timothy chapter 3 verse 16 all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness at the man of God may be perfect, fully furnished unto all good works. All Scripture the Old Testament Scripture, the New Testament Scripture is given by the inspiration of God, that means at this book, the Bible is authoritative. It's not somebody's opinion it's not somebody speculation. It is the truth of God given us through the Holy Spirit who inspired men the right and so when we come to this pulpit and preach from the word of God without preaching some new idea. Some new philosophy, some speculation, where a person has maybe been a diligent study and come up with the conclusion that I think we been wrong and so now we've got this new concept that will help us in moving in the right direction.

Another word that most are they that advocate what is called process theology which which means it's it's evolving theology what to embrace today what you have today may not be exactly what you want to embrace a year from now that more insight is being gain. Truth is being on earth. New ideas are being advanced that are beneficial, but that's not the case.

We preach that faith once delivered unto the saints. We bring the same gospel message that had been breaks from the days of the possible. No need for improvement. It's impossible to improve no way to change and alter it, just to meet the changing time indeed. Times are changing on a times would say I don't like change. We generally don't make any difference whether we like it or not.

Everything around us is changing, but that doesn't mean that we change the message of the word of God to suit the ideas and opinions of the day. We continue to preach that man is a fallen ruling center adding transgress the law of God being born into the world with a sinful nature, he cannot elevate or rescue himself.

We preach continue the truth of the grace of God grace that was treasured up in the covenant even before the foundation of the world when God determined that he would save the people made choice of them all the arrangements were made between the father, the son of the Holy Spirit for their salvation. The same wonderful truth that in the fullness of time, Jesus Christ came to this earth to save his people from their sins.

That's what his whole life was leading to see even though the disciples misunderstood. Jesus knew from the beginning what his mission was it said I came down from heaven not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me, became them to go to the cross that shed his blood to secure those that were given to him by the father. We preached the same truth over and over again that it is by the power of the Holy Spirit that these were alienated from God, who do not love God fear God or seek God must be drawn by the spirit must be quick and must be born again by his power, and so is God's grace in every part and aspect of the salvation it is God's continuing work to bring these nanny who are redeemed and called ultimately to glory QS begun a good work and you will perform it on the day of Jesus Christ. God doesn't begin to work and give up on it because somebody is particularly difficult, but by the ongoing successful effectual work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and lives of those that are drawn to him. He brings about a change a tremendous transformation in some cases, and ultimately brings these to glory when they will be conformed perfectly to the image of Jesus Christ. And I know that that message is objectionable to some and seems out of baked others, but it is the message of the word of God it is that which the spirit brought to the minds of the apostles because he said he would bring to them remembrance of what Jesus had spoken. It's easy to forget. You may sit and listen to the message and think I really appreciate that message I got a lot out of and then you get home and try to recapture try to remember some of the details and ask you a week or 10 days later you may struggle even to get text much less able to get much of the content and so we we have problems with our memory and never noticed. Also how you can remember things that are of no value.

What ever little insignificant details or some juicy gossip that you ought not to remember, but you keep every detail of that fresh in your mind, but it comes to remembering the things of God that that's extra but thankfully not left ourselves the Holy Spirit brings to us a remembrance of the things that have been talked easy to forget easy to drift to drift away from it. You look at places where once truth was preached and today there's been a complete chain. Individuals and churches that have drifted away often it's a gradual process but is because there has not been that renewing of mine at constant remembrance of the things that have talked and then John 1526. We learned that it is the work of the spirit to testify of Jesus Christ. But when the comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the father, even the spirit of truth which proceeded from the father, he shall testify of me.

So the spirit of God does not call attention to himself. He testifies of Jesus.

There are some who will put so much focus on the spirit and we thank God for the Holy Spirit.

We need the Holy Spirit that we must emphasize what the Scriptures say about but there are places where the focus is put so much upon the Holy Spirit that there is neglect. Honor Jesus Christ spirit came to testify of Jesus. The next thing we notice in this passage is the gift of Christ. Verse 27 of John 14 peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid think they're two aspects or facets of peace to facets of peace that we received from Jesus Christ as his gift.

First, there is peace with God. And then there is the piece of God by nature. We are enemies of God. That may seem a little difficult for some to accept alone. Hi. I know I'm not perfect.

I haven't always said and done the right thing, but I would not consider myself to have been an enemy of God. But the reality of it is that because we were born as rebellious centers.

Violators of his law disobedient to him. We were coming and so in order for us to have communion with him fellowship with him be a part of his family reconciliation had to take place. Colossians chapter 1 verse 20 and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven and you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now have the reconcile reconciliation takes place because of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ and now we can enjoy peace. There is no real peace of any kind apart from having first been reconciled to God and say little more about that as we look at the piece that Jesus speaks out when he says the piece of this world is not what he is giving but we now have peace with God because of the work of reconciliation. Romans chapter 5 in verse one says therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ is a wonderful thing to have peace with God. The think of being in the camp of his enemies. The think of being under the wrath of God alienated from God not being able to call upon God for help because you are his enemy is dreadful to consider. But, being justified by faith we have peace with God and then verse 10 says, for if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

The greatest piece that could possibly ever be known or enjoyed his powers because of his and that the peace of God, you have peace with God because of the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ you not have a relationship with him.

You're now in his family. Your adopted and so you are at peace but there is that peace that we need on a day-to-day basis. The peace of God is described in Philippians chapter 4 it says in the six verse be careful for nothing, that is, do not worry how you want to avoid that in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God or what's the result and the peace of God which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. The peace of God that passes understanding. As part of the last words of Jesus before he went to the cross gives the promise of the Holy Spirit and says that the spirit of truth is sent to guide, to bring things to their remembrance that they would not of been able to recall certain we are dependent upon the blessing of the Holy Spirit to enlighten us and give us understanding as we read his word and here it preached it would give thanks for the gift of peace that comes to us through the Holy Spirit of God, pound to week reach again next time. This was Sarah Bradley, Junior, saying that God richly bless you all and will