Messaage from Pastor Shirley

God is peace! We have peace because God is in us. 

    Jesus will soon be crucified. He is preparing his disciples by giving them encouraging words of comfort.  This is a word not just for the disciples they are comforting words handed down to believers today. 

    John 14:27 shows us that Jesus is giving a gift of peace of mind and heart that the world cannot give.  “Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed, and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]”

    As Christians our peace is not found in the world and what it has to offer.  We live in the world, but we don’t follow the values, beliefs, and actions of the unbelieving world. Jesus said in John 17:14 ….becasue they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world….

    Peace is not the absence of troubles but we have the power within us to deal with troubles in God kind of way.

     John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]”

    Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with gratitude, make your requests known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will protect your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”