5.24.18 Sermon Notes

Things Jesus Never Said
Part 7
“There Will Never Be World Peace!"

I love to hear people quote the words of Jesus!  However, sometimes they may quote it wrong or conveniently live their lives ignoring some important teaching Christ laid out for us.  Today we present Part 8 of our Sermon Series “Things Jesus Never Said: “There Will Never Be World Peace.”
 
What is the definition of Peace?  According to a dictionary definition:  it is freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility - freedom from or the cessation of war or violence.
 
World peace to most people would mean no major wars or conflicts that the U.S.A. is involved in.  Or perhaps, no wars even between any nations.  It would mean people getting along – all the time!  What a dream!
 
Linda Thompson together with then husband, famous composer David Foster wrote a song called, “My Grown-up Christmas List” which I believe sums up most people’s concept of “world peace.”  The lyrics go like this:
 
Do you remember me- I sat upon your knee- I wrote to you with childhood fantasies
Well I'm all grown up now- And still need help somehow- I'm not a child but my heart still can dream.
So here's my lifelong wish- My grown up Christmas list- Not for myself but for a world in need
No more lives torn apart- That wars would never start- And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend- And right would always win- And love would never end, no
This is my grown up Christmas list.

Wow – wouldn’t that be great?  If that list could be a reality?  That sounds like world peace!  But in reality, it’s just not possible.
Let’s get a perspective on three basic realms of peace!

Realm #1:  Global Peace
John 16:33 - “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

In Matthew 24, Jesus gives a very long and descriptive narrative on future events.  Let me just read a sample for you …
Matthew 24:6-7: “And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.7 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.”

In this chapter-long discourse (Matthew 24) Jesus describes events that would hardly be indicative of  “world peace.”

Actually, there will only be world peace when the end of this world as we know it, comes.  And only following the judgement and even then, only a few will experience it.  It all starts with your own individual peace.

We will revisit this in a few minutes.  But first let’s explore another realm of peace…

Realm #2:  Peace of Mind (Inside your soul)
John 14:27 - “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
Philippians 4:4-9 – “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.  6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”

Realm #3:  Peace where you live (your external reality).
One thing that most people are fully aware of on an ongoing basis.  We live in a world of turmoil all around us.  From relationships to job situations to financial situations to road rage we see the opposite of peace.  Selfishness, rebellion and an unwillingness to allow the mind and heart of God to live in and through individuals continually feeds this realm.  However, in the midst of it all, we can have peace.  It is a peace that the world cannot comprehend.
 
Here’s an important question.  Can you influence the world around you to experience the same peace you have?  Is the peace you have experienced through Christ desirable to others?
 
Psalm 133 (NLT) – “How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!  2 For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe.  3 Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion.  And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting.”
 
Do your personal characteristics cause others to seek your Giver of Peace?  Jesus said in Matthew 5:9 during the Sermon on the Mount – “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
 
Are you at peace today?
 
Let’s put the lid on the reality and finality of World Peace…  When will it finally come?
John in the Revelation he received from God talks about the Second Death.  Truly understanding the first birth, first death, second birth, second death is key to you getting to experience world peace.
 
First Birth – You are physically born into this world.  Created by God, for a relationship with Him.
Eph. 2:10 - For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Psalm 139:13 - You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb.
 
First Death – Dead in Sin - Because of Sin we die physically - WE blew it!
Ephesians 2:1-3 - Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.[a] He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
 
Second Birth – Born Again - We have a second birth which is ultimately important!
John 3:5-7 - 5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ 
I Corinthians 15:22 - Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.
 
Second Death – Physical Death – Yes, we will all die physically.  John, in Revelation 21:8 calls the second death the time when our bodies, because of sin, will be cast into the Lake of Fire - that is the destiny of "sin" - permanent separation from God.
  Technically our physical bodies will cease to exist.  But the condition of your soul when you die determines whether or not you will experience peace – eternally.
 
Revelation 12:10-11 - Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last—salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ.  For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth—the one who accuses them
before our God day and night.  11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.  And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
 
Revelation 2:10 - Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.
 
Revelation 21:1-8 – “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.[a] 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”  5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” 6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.  8 “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Any power the second death has, only applies to those who are not in Christ.  Rev. 20:11-15 tells the story!
Revelation 20:11-15 - ”And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave[b] gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. 14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.”

When everything has been completed… and everyone is where they chose to be, then there will be World Peace!
​Will you experience Peace in your World -  because the second death has no power over you?  Is your name in the Book of Life?
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