The Peace of God - Part 1 of 2

About this Bible lower known comes to you under the direction of Elder Lucero Bradley Junior, pastor of the Cincinnati primitive Baptist Church will I and this is Mr. Bradley Junior inviting you to stay tuned for another message of God's sovereign grace a a a a a and in and in will will and in and in asking the question what could make today a better day you possibly would save for the coronavirus to disappear. While that would be a great day, but that's probably not going to happen instantly, but I'm a little booklet entitled things can be better today and there is a way to be able to cope with the discouragements.

The challenges we face in these times without the virus disappearing that concerns our walk with the Lord our relationship with him and how we respond to his divine sovereignty.

So if you requested.

I'll send you this booklet entitled things can be better today. Our address is the Baptist Bible lower box 17 oh 37, Cincinnati, OH 45217. This is a five Sunday month and so the need is particularly great at present, I encourage you to go to our website that Baptist Bible hour.org you can hear the broadcast there at any time and you can also make a donation there to help support this radio ministry piece is a wonderful blessing. Isaiah chapter 66 first 12 speaks of the Lord, extending to his people piece like a river. Jesus is called the Prince of peace. Romans chapter 5 verse one says therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Apart from his grace we were at enmity against God, his enemy, now there is peace because of the faith that is the gift of God that we believe on Jesus Christ. We are justified. We stand as though we had not sin the righteousness of Christ imputed to us.

We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans chapter 1 verse seven. Paul introduces this epistle as a says Grace to you and peace from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ. This greeting was used by the apostle as a road. Many of his epistles, so obviously the subject of peace was one that was very much on his mind and heart. Grace and peace be unto you, and that peace comes from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ as we think about peace. How precious it is. What a blessing it is, how is something that we so much desire we want to go to the book of Philippians chapter 4 and read about peace passes understanding, and then see some of the things that are laid out for us to pursue. If we really want to have that piece.

Philippians chapter 4 rating. The fourth verse rejoice in the Lord all way and again I say rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God and the peace of God which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus blessing is there described the peace of God, the peace that passes understanding that cannot be comprehended by the neck from my shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus is a look at this passage we consider three things a problem identified.

Secondly, a solution presented.

And thirdly, a blessing received. So what is the problem.

The problem identified is the problem of worry is says be careful for nothing. Do not be full of care, man is prone to worry worries about anything and everything.

Some people just admit that I worry all the time and that they don't expect things to get any better people worrying because of uncertainties address. Don't know what happen tomorrow, next week, next year, when obviously no one knows what a day may bring forth what people still worry about the lake understand they're not going to be able to be enlightened in advance as to what's out there. They still worry a worry because there are things that they cannot control worry because the future is unknown and worry about how long this current crisis is going to continue your love different opinions. The fact is nobody knows so some worry about how to fret about all kinds of general worry is just at the time of crisis like this just along the road of life in general, people worry about their health. They were about the finances were about the job worry about their children lists can go on and on. Well, at the present.

Many people are worried about many things during the past few weeks I've heard the word worry frequently impact on lady as we were talking about the coronavirus this week says I am worried to death were is dreadful and we can understand how there is alarming concern.

Because of this worldwide pandemic worry about. Will it affect me when I get sick will it affect my family.

When you hear the news and hear of hundreds of people dying every day. It is a new experience, something that none of us have ever faced. Although there have been worldwide pandemics in the past. Thousands and thousands of people have died. This is a new thing for us. Hearing about this knowing about the danger the chapter course are those that are worrying about losing their childhood, we understand that person is depending on a steady income to be able to pay bills like the feet of family and if job is lost, particularly if it means is going be permanently lost. It causes concern. The plan worry about, to pay my bills.

What about my investments. What about my savings. What about my retirement.

I have just worry worried about all of these things, worry about plan should have been disrupted.

How does this affect their education since schools are shut down weddings other than plan have to be postponed. In some cases, worry about so many many things that if you get into it. It controls you and worry is the sort of concern that tears you apart. Worry is devastating. So while we talk about all of these various worries. The fact is worry is a sin. Worry is a sin, the passage you just ran Philippians 46 says be careful for nothing, simply saying, do not worry do not be anxious about anything, some apartments, a printer that's a tall order.

No need to tell me not worry that precious way. I have tried to quit� Overcome that no success well were going to see that God provides us some information here about how we can deal with our weakness and our tendency to worry. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 6 verse 25.

Take no fault of your life. Now that doesn't mean that you are to become a responsible and ignore your obligations and duties, but he simply saying, do not be anxious about your life. Don't worry about don't worry about the provisions that you need because he goes on to describe the fact that as God takes care of the birds and feeds them. It'll take care of you and your more important than the birds in the 27th verse is is which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature but say I'd like to be about a foot taller. What you can think about that and try to have a positive mental attitude worry about it all you want but that's not going to make you grow taller. Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his lifespan worry about it worry about.

It is a sin and Jesus says you must not worry such worry is a sin than there's never a time to excuse it. Never time to defend personal always come back if they're confronted with the idea of the biblical fact that worry is a sin, say, well, you just don't understand my situation, but there are no exemptions given across the board. We have to see that the Scripture declares worry is a sin. Next, we see a solution presented. As Paul writes this letter to the church at Philippi is not just telling them that they ought not to be full of worry and anxiety. He's telling them how to deal with how to deal with. He says, first of all, rejoice in the Lord and repeats it. And again I say rejoice.

Then somebody says that's no help at all. I have difficulty trying not to worry and I have a problem rejoicing in the Lord all the way, I can rejoice. Sometimes I can't rejoice away. Now let's examine in specific detail some of the things of the Scripture say on this very subject the many admonitions to rejoice.

Psalm 33 verse one.

Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous for praise is comely for the upright numerous admonitions throughout the Old Testament for us to rejoice.

Psalm 70 verse four.

Let all those that seek the rejoice and be glad in the analects such as love thy salvation say continually let God be magnified that all those that secretly seeking the Lord the desire communion and fellowship with him. The good desires that his name would be honored that God be magnified in any sense at all those that the SECAM rejoice and be glad in him. Psalm 98 verse four.

Make a joyful noise on the Lord, all the earth, make a loud noise and rejoice and sing praise cage would have to be shy about. As we rejoice in the Lord as we sing you spray like a loud noise might be known.

The Lord is good. The Lord is gracious and I'm rejoicing in him and then we come to the New Testament in this very epistle of Philippians where joy is indeed a theme chapter 3, verse one. Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord and then in first Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 16 he says rejoice evermore.

So it's not to be at certain intervals sits not to be on special days. Good things have come to pass, which rejoice all the way. We are to rejoice ever more.

In fact, is that this joy is not dependent on circumstances.

The joy that is talked about here in God's word differs greatly from somebody saying I'm sure had a good day and really happy.

I'm happy because I got a good grade on a test. I'm happy because I got a raise at work know what were talking about joy were talking about something that's far deeper.

It's not dependent on circumstances. It's based on the feeling is not an emotion. It is confidence that God is in control of everything. And I'm trusting him. So no matter what happens, no matter how unpleasant some of our circumstances may be. Down deep that can still be this joy in the Lord. It's the fruit of the spirit. It's not something that just passes over us is an emotional response to a particularly bright great event this is this is something that's deep within the fruit of the spirit as described in the fifth chapter the book of Galatians talked about joy being a part of that fruit so well if it's the fruit of the spirit that I guess I don't have anything to do with no although the spirit of God generates it. We have a responsibility to do the things that we enjoy doing this passage of Scripture in order for to be developed or not taught in Scripture to love one another and yet we find that love is the fruit of the spirit, so there is instruction given as to how we are to move forward in the path of righteousness and true Christianity, and following the teaching of Scripture and yet were dependent upon the blessing of fire of the Holy Spirit for all to come to pass is a Paul who writes this letter had joy even in the midst of troubles as a matter fact when he is writing the letter. He's in prison now from a human standpoint, we'd have to think it must've been frustrating when his great zeal was to circulate the gospel. He traveled extensively. He wanted to be out preaching to others. And here is in prison and are we so often reason from our concept about life and about how things are to go and we would think if God has called this man.

Such a unique experience when he was brought down the road to Damascus blasts with such insight and knowledge.

I would like God protect him out of prison, keeping from the atrocity.

Thanks. But, absent have purpose and in the first chapter of the book of Philippians verse 12 Paul says, but I would. You should understand brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel as he sits in prison.

He's not there feeling sorry for himself is not there, complaining, it looks like God is forgotten me and said she already something good coming out of this that were not always able to see that readily may be way down the road may be the will never fully see all the good that God is bringing out of our trust in the pulpit see this.

He said this is had an impact for the furtherance of the gospel. There were some that took courage by his imprisonment and began to preach and to preach with the right motive. There were others that for some strange idea that if they preach that they would add to Paul's afflictions of the movie was long pause and I'm so glad the messages get in after and this time the gospel message delivered by Paul was permeating the whole panelists the praetorian guard guard would come down, sit with this prisoner for per the time Paul would present the gospel, not 100% success. Nothing comes.

It presents a costly, they began to talk about the whole analysis discussing the message of for possible so Paul was rejoicing in the Lord prison was in his favorite place that's not where he human standpoint would've wanted to be what he saw God's hand in other trials for Titus, who had brought him suppliers in the church was sick and came close to death. Charlie was officially troubled over that there were false teachers invading the church. He referred to them as dogs, beware of dogs there coming in undermining everything I've tried to teach denying the very basics and fundamentals of the gospel. He had that burden to carry false teachers invading the church and then the fall that wasn't enough. Here was strife between the odious and syndicate to women in the church doesn't tell us what the problem was but it was obviously something major.

It was significant because he saw it necessary to include that in this letter and I always imagine the letter being ran with the church was assembled and how these 200 might been somewhat harassment shocked when their name is included in Paul's telling them to settle their problem and labor together in unity. Yes unity is so vital. If the church is going to prosper and if God's name is going to be honored and then there was a period of time with no church remembered his needs. No one was supporting him. No one was helping him go down the list to see the apostle Paul had a lot of troubles but he says rejoice always in the Lord now much. I will May 20 road but he didn't live up to it on. He goes on in the latter part of this passage. The tell us that we are to follow his example. So we not only gave us instruction he displayed in his life. He was an example of rejoicing in the Lord. Even in these darkest of time can be joy when God's people are suffering persecution at was true when they were threatened in the early days of the church that been beaten and told to preach the Lord Jesus name in acts chapter 5, verse 41 says and they departed from the presence of the counterweight voicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

Oh, nobody wants to sign up to be beaten.

That's obviously something extremely unpleasant touch painful. They want rejoicing of the fact that they had suffered pain but they rejoice of the fact that they were able to suffer shame for the cause of Christ rejoicing in adversity wireless full of trouble Jesus had in the world ye shall have tribulation, sorrow. There's disappointment. This wickedness all kinds of wickedness that is rampant in this world. Trouble trouble all around us but apostle Paul could say as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. What a paradox. Some of these things indeed broke some to his heart. There was sorrow when he saw the church's militia being invaded by the Judaizers.

There constant effort to discredit what Paul had taught.

But he says no there sorrow in this present evil world, yet there is rejoicing certain of the fallout from 19 brings hurt sorrow, loss, frustration, death. But because you rejoice in the Lord, you can have peace down because you rejoice in the Lord doesn't mean that you ignore the suffering that you consider yourself removed from it and I'm not even thinking about what other people are enduring absolutely not.

Romans chapter 12 verse 15 says weep with those that weep. Jesus was compassionate. He wept at the grave of Lazarus with Mary and Martha. He was moved with compassion when he saw the multitudes, a sheep without a shepherd and you and I should be moved with compassion when we see that the world over there people who are suffering people dying people losing their loved ones, people losing their jobs yes and is there may be needs present themselves to us. We want to be willing not only to pray for people who are suffering and have great need.

But for that opportunity to minister to them, even in a Material Way, James chapter 2 verse 15 says of a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you say under them department MPs VE warmed and filled, notwithstanding ye give them, not those things which are needful to the body. What perfect whatever faith is it that's what James is talking about that that doesn't display genuine faith save go your way, we won't be filled but you don't provide for you. Don't give them those things that are needful to acquire. You can have joy in your heart because you're trusting God and know that he is in control of all things, and your joy is not dependent on circumstances is in him doesn't mean that you isolate yourself from the idea of other people who need help others who are suffering concern for them you're praying for them you're ready to minister to them and in the Scriptures are plain while we struggle with our own difficulties, but find strength in the Lord to continue moving forward. We also are to be deeply concerned about others weeping with those that week rejoicing with those that rejoice.

May we pray for grace to show the kindness and consideration that is so needed as we minister to those around us and encourage you to write her son until next week.

At the same time. May the Lord richly bless you all and in a Baptist Bible hour is coming to you under the direction of Elder Lucero Bradley Junior, pastor of the Cincinnati primitive Baptist Church address all mailed to the Baptist Bible hour Cincinnati, OH 45217. That's the Baptist Bible hour Cincinnati, OH 45217 and