John Chapter 20:17-21

This chapter 5 responses is, therefore, having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. See before we made peace with God. We were at war with God. We are struggling with, and we were running from his life lesson years we can have peace with God you can be at peace with God.

I know some of you walked in here and turmoil and maybe you're going through some stuff and you're just all bunched up and you don't know you just freaked out.

You don't stay this very morning you can have this piece of I can't give it but I can point to one only the one the cam, but the one on security. Welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee.

David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina, one of the Bible says that it's true that we were once at war with God because of our sin. The reality is that because of the gospel. We can be at peace with God today pastor David explains this piece as he continued the gospel of John chapter now here's David part five of his teaching is over 17 Jesus said to her. Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to my father, go to my brother and then say to them. I am ascending to my father and your father and to my God and your God. Verse 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had spoken these things to Mary was obedient when it married its I don't know Jesus I'm worshiping right now. Just let me worship. She would've been disobedient while there was a time to worship and there was a time to do and there's a balance between these two things part of worship I believe is serving at that's just what disciples and yes we talk about it a lot, you know why because of this misconception that happens in the American church that 5% of churches was to serve the other 95%. Mary went and didn't want to understand. Mary was one of the first evangelist she's I don't how it messes with your theology, but that's just told her to go tell people that's what she's doing.

She's going to tell people what she thought about the resurrection. First Corinthians 1512 says now Christ is preached, that he is been raised from the dead, some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead, but there's no resurrection of the dead in Christ is not risen Christ is not risen.

Their preaching is empty in your face is also empty. I used to say something saying anymore and if you say please stop. Well, you know, even if even if Christianity is not real. Jesus didn't die raised from the dead. It just helps you live a better life here that I'd rather be wrong about that SL Paul said positive is all this is false. Preaching is empty and the faith is empty.

You know all you gotta do is look at places that now reject the resurrection of Jesus Christ. See the truth of that churches and say well there's no real resurrection of the dead and the preaching is empty in the faces empty first Corinthians 1519 he goes on to say in his in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are all men. The most pitiable so if you say that that's in direct contradiction of what Paul the writer.

Corinthians. The resurrection changes everything. The resurrection changes everything she were not following somebody who died in a moment of valor or scandal over heroic act responsibly that God didn't stay dead to understand that the tomb is empty he's not there.

He is alive.

He is risen, seen all these other religions and stop following these people are following dead people there deadly state dead solid dead God. Jesus is old and that's who I'm following resurrection changes everything. What is your biggest foe in your life will be death, it will be death. But guess what you can have the victory. What Jesus be death year following the one and only God who beat death mean think about it.

He died, he stated, I mean we we just were so familiar with that we don't think about the content of what that saying were following Jesus the son of God who when he died didn't stay dead and that there's no more fear of death we can walk in victory.

Verse 19 then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, peace be with you and notices his first day of the week that they would be Sunday. This is an interesting thing because from this point forward the Jewish people had been meeting on Saturday. It was their Shabbat Sabbath, from this day forward the Christian church which was comprised mostly of Jewish people for the first 50 years. Worship happened on Sunday. The resurrection of Jesus change the day the church meets for ever unexplained Tutsis for fear of the Jews over the disciples they were Jewish. Okay so it would probably be more exacting to say the Jewish leaders who had executed Jesus and and why were they afraid to say something things can happen that they were next.

These are these great superheroes of the faith that we never think have a struggle there hiding in the room after Jesus is been resurrected and he said this is important, what, what's the first thing he says to peace be with you.

Peace be unto you, this is really important is really important because Jesus said it, it was the first thing he said to the disciples, we need understand this word peace and and for many of us peace means different things and and probably for most of us peace used to mean something different. It is at the peace symbol with two fingers.

Is it meditating with your fingers connected and chanting nonsense is that pieces peace and money is peace and smoking dope is that drinking is in taken drugs, absolutely not.

What is peace well see our definition is different than the way Jesus meant that word ECU we say peace was piecemeal, absence of war. That's that's the way the the Webster's dictionary defines peace. The number one definition the absence of work that makes no sense in this context Jesus shows up and says, may you be absence of war that that's the way we would come out peace in the Middle East is that by summer is not what Jesus, Jesus as a Jewish man would have used the word shalom shalom some of your familiar. Let work and most of you probably loosely translated as peace and that's partially true but it means a lot more than actual roaming safe and well and happy and healthy and prosperity rested whole well-being of the entire person and yes peace Sweet Jesus shalom not just peace. And so we need understand shalom so we can understand what he saying why because it's significant because Jesus said understand if you're here this morning and you'd never ask the Lord to forgive you of your sins, friend, you've never known peace. And if you're wondering why I'm here to tell you because you are at war with God, you are fighting and you're running in your hiding in God is looking for knees calling your name. You want to respond to them this morning asking him to forgive you of your sins, but there's so many here who have asked him to forgive them of their sins yet you don't have peace in your life why it because you put other things ahead of the Lord, you got distracted. See, God uses peace in our life. Well, if you drive you have these little lights on your dashboard that I don't know what you clock on ideologues that you know it's flashing you need to add all this. It's likely to like really good but anyway I don't government so these like/want to warn you, exactly your lack of peace can warn you that things are as they should be in your life that lack of peace is a danger signal. Romans chapter 5 verse one says is, therefore, having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ see before we made peace with God. We were at war with God. We are struggling with him. We were running from its life lesson years we can have peace with God you can be at peace with God.

I know some of you walked in here and turmoil and maybe you're going through some stuff and you're just all bunched up and you don't you just freaked out.

You don't have to stay that way. This very morning you can have this piece of talking, I can't give it to, but I can point to the one that can know only the one that can. But the one that wants to give it to Romans 1417 says for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 1513 says now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit first printed 1433 for God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

Peace is important to God. He spends a lot of time in the were trying to communicate to us. This issue about peace. Ephesians 213 and 14 now in Christ Jesus, who you who once were far off have been brought nearby the blood of Christ, for he himself is our peace was made both one and is broken down the middle all separation. We were alienated we were strangers to God but because became the God with Jesus representing us and said, Lord, please forgive us of our sins because of his death on the cross we can be at peace with God. Jesus said in John 1427 peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you not as the world gives do I give to you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid me ask you question me. People here have cell phone measure now in their wonderful thing because you know I can send and receive emails anytime, anywhere. It helps me stay in constant contact with office and with different people. That's a blessing. But you know the bad part about this little thing is it keeps me in constant communication with the kids. But you know I've always got it is always there is always going off. We have filled our lives with such noise, we can't hear anymore. We have all these satellite radio channels. We have all these channels on the television.

Do you spend time with God. Quiet time where you turn the television off.

How much time do you spend with the Lord compared to the time you spent surfing the Internet or sending emails or reading emails or forwarding emails.

I know these are tough questions. Understand that I have a busy life to DC the time. Our lives are so filled with noise.

We can have peace in the Lord wants to give us peace and either Jesus is a liar and unable to give us peace are.

There's a reason we don't have, and I think I'm presenting the reason a lot of us don't have peace. Sometimes is the busyness and noise of life. Make sure you take time. Make sure you take time to spend with the Lord.

John 1633 says these things I've spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. Notice may have peace in the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, have overcome the world ceases you. You will have tribulation. Okay, so it's doesn't need to be a surprise anymore events that you might have it or if you're bad or if you're still sinning, then you might have to really nice as you have tribulation, but be of good cheer. Do you have the peace not just occasional peace. Do you have the peace of God in your life.

The peace of God by which Jesus stay asleep on the sea of Galilee in the store. The peace of God by which while he was hanging on the cross he could look at the people say father forgive them. They don't know what they're doing, not the peace that should stumble about every little trial and every little tribulation comes along, but solid massive strong peace based upon nothing but that rock that is Jesus Christ the doesn't move. That's what he wants for each and every person here. Do you have it.

Do you not if you don't have it. God wants you to have at this very morning, and it could be that there's something in the way of you having that peace and he wants to remove that that will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now.

Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown. We want to take just a couple seconds here to pray for some cities in our listening audience.

Specifically, Southlake, Sun Valley to Noble Wells Winnemucca Nevada and also Cape May, New Jersey, Farmington, New Mexico, Lord, we thank you for the people tuning in. In the cities. We pray that you would pour your Holy Spirit out that you feel people with the faith to say yes to what you want to do in our life. People who are downtrodden are full of despair. I pray that that would turn to hope and trust in you. Jesus got up, pray for those in leadership positions in these communities that you would give them wisdom and discernment that they would look to your word for advice and counsel and answers on how to lead low. We prayed that they would get plugged in church and received from biblical authority and direction. Lord I pray that many people get plugged in churches they begin serving and looking for opportunities to use the gifts that you've given them to be a blessing to other people in the same way they've been blessed in Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse 20 when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord Jesus said to them again. Peace to you as a father sent me also send you out in case you thought I just spent too long on that piece thing but Jesus says it again because this is important. And then there's a reason to linger in scriptures like this. Peace to you shalom to you as a father sent me also send you is a curious thing to me what to do.

Father send them into his father sent him into a world where the religion of the day had forgotten the relationship with the Lord.

They got into the ritual and they forgotten the reality of God and Jesus says, even as the father sent me, so send I you understand the biggest enemy of Christianity is not demon worship or Satanist the biggest foe of Christianity is religion empty ritual people thinking that they can go in and in and sit for a little while and hear something in and they're okay with God. No matter, they've ever ask him to forgive them of their sins are not empty. Religion is the flow of real Christianity and even as Jesus so even violently fought against that something we should set our face against Jesus was understand this and I don't know how we got to this namby-pamby Jesus we represent.

Some people today. Jesus was a revolutionary Jesus was different Jesus was there to challenge the kind of stinking thinking of religion and the acts in the works of man can bring you into a right standing with God. He came snow way said I am the way and the truth and the life. And this is what Jesus insisted to people talk about is people say this though say that people do this in, but this is what he sent us and to do to teach and to reach and to proclaim the good news.

John 317 tells us. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.

Jesus didn't come to condemn the world know some of us read.

I personally think that's right. That's our job.

Pastor me and you will go condemn the world charm and stress does not know it's not see a large majority of the world is beaten and broken and hand they are painfully familiar with the fact that their centers occasionally you may run into somebody that doesn't realize her center and they don't even think they sent you know where you can find those people probably not in the barge or from an Obama church and you need to talk to those people about sin but look how Jesus in his interaction presented to send question.

While I mentioned John for the cow carefully and with sensitivity talk to her about to go get your husband will have this right, you don't have a it's five husbands, and now you're literally God was it doesn't say he foamed at the mouth that pointed out or yelled at her or did any of those things.

John eight in the forgiven woman she start beaten up machine do she has done something wrong. Why did he say you know here around know he said who condemned no one's is neither do go and don't do it anymore proclaim the good news hello reality is we are lost without God, without hope, without forgiveness.

I think a lot of people are aware of that they need to hear the good news they need to hear what you know now sitting in here they need to know this is something were all supposed to be doing lifeless and here's were we are here to play a part in changing the world. Far too often Christians get together and in and in them automatically to start bashing though the world and the political system, and all these things and yesterday problems with that. They bash this a bright badge that they bash corporations and all that stuff but when you make us, did you ever stop to think that those things are like that because were not having that influence were supposed to be having as we see the world going crazy as we see these people doing these things as we watch our government do these things.

Did you ever stop to think you know what, I'm not living my life for maximum impact and make a maximum difference in that's what's wrong with the world. Either that or part. The Lord has a properly equipped us or trained us or give us the strength to the world. He called us to do so. I got no see. Whenever he told to my to do it. He gave him the ability to do it. He told a lame man to get up and walk you what he did. He got up and he walked the blind man to see just what he could see toilet dead man to get out of a grave, and he did so in love. What was your excuse me, you, being dead is fairly good one, but it didn't work with Jesus your alive and breathing. We need to be working together to reach the world making a difference and maybe for some of you the peace you lack skills you're refusing to hear that impact on the Lord's calling you to serve him and like Jonah, you run load when I don't want you ended up in the belly of a whale are you here this morning and like that piece will if you know him and you lack that peace and according to Scriptures stuff must've gotten in the way you must've become distracted in this morning you can get that stuff out of the way by coming to them and refocusing on him. Or maybe God called you to do something and you're not doing it again. He'll give you the strength to do those things. Or perhaps you're here this morning and a lot of what I've said is it is not really heard it before, you thought you did the best you could and your good outweighed the bad.

And God honored that you went to church and tried your best to keep the 10 Commandments, and that whole thing and and and you salted okay I get in them.

No, absolutely not. By was clear was only one way to heaven is through Jesus Christ and is by grace, meaning you come to him and you ask him to forgive you of your sins and he'll do that and he'll begin the change.

You can't change before that moment time and if you've been lack in peace, you're here and now this morning. Why you lack peace in this morning's not necessarily Mary Magdalene, the Jesus is called Jesus is calling you that still small voice right now. It was the flesh he wants you to be warm and filled and he wants you to have this shalom. And if you lack it, he's here to offer to us. Remember that sometimes this lack of peace is like that dashboard light is turned on for reason to speak to you this morning, and if you find yourself in that place then you can know that piece by doing the Prince of peace. He's here this morning. Any I know he's doing a work spring, Lord, thank you for offering this this piece in an Lord, thank you that when our lives become disarrayed and out of order and chaotic and filled with only that we lack learn because it is like that dashboard light is telling us something's wrong that we've gotten distracted maybe who wandered off we wander too far gone to for too long. Or maybe we've never had that peace of God to begin with.

Lord, we thank you that you offer that this morning in Jesus name friend.

You know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Legion a short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. God wants you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you.

All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again. Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him and he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness.

Those who were sick, not the righteous.

So congratulations bring you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life you're the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. But it does cost for us to come and bring that message to you and to others in your neighborhood through radio through the Internet and through the mobile technologies that God has gifted us to be able to use so if you like to support this ministry. Please go to cross the bridge.com. Click on the donate button and ask God how much he would have you give either on a one-time basis or continuing basis each month to help ensure that the teaching of God's word continues to go out through cross the bridge. Thank you so much ODA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day. You can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider daily reading and the thought to meditate on. Throughout today from the heart. David McGee those are terrific and it's easy and it's free so folks sign up today@crossthebridge.com. Thanks again for listening and join us next time.

As David McGee continues to verse by verse in the Gospel of John