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Pastor's Message - June 2008

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14v27)

Hebrews 12 verse 28 tells us that Chris tians are part of a kingdom which can not be shaken. There is a shaking going on in the world around us, which we see in physical events, such as storms and earthquakes, financial markets, social and environmental instability among many, many other things. In contrast to this, God promises His people a peace, which the world can not understand. I heard once of a painting competition where the subject of the paintings was to be “peace”. Many people painted beautiful landscapes and idyllic scenes of typical, peaceful environments. The painting which won, however, portrayed a raging storm, with a tree in the middle of the canvass, being bent over in the wind and rain. In the tree was a little bird singing its heart out, without a care in the world. It was entitled “peace in the storm”.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4v6-9)

God does not promise us a release from difficult situations or to be taken out of a world in turmoil. His promise though, is to give us peace and freedom from anxiety and worry. How are we to achieve this state of inexplicable peace. Many people have sought it and taught it in a great variety of ways from yoga, meditation and eastern philosophies to drugs and alcohol and other ultimately destructive practices. The bible explains that the only way to experience true peace is by making peace with God through the knowledge of His son Jesus Chris t and by entering into and learning to walk in the kingdom which can not be shaken. In doing this we can not come on our own terms, but in humility, being prepared to turn away from our selfish attitudes and allowing God to be the king in our lives. Only in that way do we enter into Gods kingdom and only in that way do we learn to walk in Gods kingdom. Then we receive an assurance, through God’s Holy Spirit that He receives us and calls us His children. We get to know and trust the God and creator of all things, who faithfully keeps His promises to those who give their lives to Him. Then, as we give to Him, through prayer, our fears and anxieties, a peace comes into our lives which will enable us to stand firm in our faith whatever is happening in the world around us.

These are basic things concerning salvation, life and death, light and darkness, of which all Chris tians will be aware. Learning how to walk in the truth’s of the kingdom and all that means is not always so easy.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14v17)

Gods kingdom is a kingdom of power, love, peace, joy and many other things about which Jesus taught His disciples and which the whole bible describes in great detail. Jesus explained to Nicodemus in John chapter 3 the way to enter Gods kingdom in the first place “ no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water (representing repentance) and the Spirit” . Learning how to walk in Gods kingdom requires the same repentance, humility and receiving the work of God’s Holy Spirit in our lives.

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
(Matthew13v44,45)

As we see around us that many things are being shaken, even those things which we previously thought were firm foundations, surely it is time, more that ever, to search out God’s kingdom in our lives. Jesus said that the kingdom of God was like treasure, which, on finding it a man sold all he had to buy the field in which it was buried. That needs to be our attitude if we are serious about these things. If we focus on what the kingdom of God is like, upon the promises of the kingdom and most of all upon the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Chris t, we will realise what rich treasusre has been made available to us through the victory of Jesus, who died for us and rose again.