{"id":2506,"date":"2017-08-28T00:03:15","date_gmt":"2017-08-28T04:03:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=2506"},"modified":"2020-01-14T08:51:59","modified_gmt":"2020-01-14T13:51:59","slug":"gods-miracle-of-peace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=2506","title":{"rendered":"God’s Miracle of Peace"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is life a puzzle? Problems, questions, fears?\u00a0 We all struggle with issues in our lives; they come and go in a constant barrage.\u00a0 Sometimes you look at the pieces of your life, and they don’t seem to fit together.\u00a0 Somewhere, there must be peace.\u00a0 Where is that “Piece” of the puzzle?<\/p>\n

And so, the Signboard Message said:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n

IS LIFE A PUZZLE?<\/span><\/p>\n

WE HAVE <\/span><\/p>\n

THE MISSING PEACE!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

The good news is that God offers us True Peace.\u00a0 Eternal Peace. The Peace that we need, not necessarily the happiness that we think we want.\u00a0 God’s in charge and He’s got a plan. And we (or any “church”) don’t have a corner on that Peace.\u00a0 God offers it to everyone.<\/p>\n

Check out these verses from the Bible:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Change?\u00a0 New Job?\u00a0 Overwhelming Responsibilities?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Ya think you’ve got it rough?\u00a0 What about Joshua having to step into Moses’ shoes?<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t

Presence<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
Deut 31:7-8<\/p>\n

Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”<\/span>\nNIV<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

The promise about the land was made to Joshua’s forefathers hundreds of years before Joshua’s time… But God keeps His promises!<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

I’m a Failure!\u00a0 Why am I Here???<\/span><\/h3>\n

God offers purpose to life and promises to give us everything we need to to His will.\u00a0 And the cool thing about all of this, is that He loves us and knows what’s best for us…. so why should we worry about doing our own thing?\u00a0 Jesus promises us peace…<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t

Purpose<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Faith overcomes worry.\u00a0 If your goal is God He’ll supply what you really need.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t
Matt 6:31-34\nSo do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ <\/span><\/p>\n

For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. <\/span><\/p>\n

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.<\/span>\nNIV<\/div><\/div>\n

Jesus’ “Yoke” links His power to us and frees us from being burdened with our own yokes of worry and self-doubt.\u00a0 Jesus’ yoke is “easy” because it was designed for us by our Creator…<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t
Matt 11:28-30 28<\/p>\n

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. <\/span><\/p>\n

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. <\/span><\/p>\n

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”<\/span><\/p>\n

NIV<\/div><\/div>\n

 <\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sickness, Life and Death…<\/span><\/h3>\n

Our Creator knows us and loves us (in spite of our failures).\u00a0 The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span>, “Jesus Wept.”<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t

Healing<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
Matt 4:23-25\nJesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. <\/span><\/p>\n

News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. <\/span><\/p>\n

Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.<\/span>\nNIV<\/div><\/div>\n

\u00a0Yeah, yeah… but that was Jesus! What about us?\u00a0 James was talking to “normal people” like us when he said…<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t
James 5:14-16<\/p>\n

Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.<\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.<\/span><\/p>\n

NIV<\/div><\/div>\n

Prayers are answered all the time.\u00a0 There’s a cool signboard message that says: “A coincidence is where God chooses to remain anonymous.”\u00a0 Sometimes, we’re overwhelmed by circumstances, but God is still beside us.<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

But People Still Suffer and Die!!!<\/span><\/h4>\n

Yes, people do die (in fact- everyone dies eventually).\u00a0 But isn’t it true that when the Lord takes you that this is the ultimate form of healing?\u00a0 Faith and prayer bring the miracle of God’s presence.\u00a0 Check out these passages…<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t

Fear Not<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
Ps 23:4 4<\/p>\n

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.<\/span><\/p>\n

NIV<\/div><\/div>\n

Jesus promises something on the other side of death…<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t
John 14:1-4<\/p>\n

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. <\/span><\/p>\n

In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. <\/span><\/p>\n

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.<\/span><\/p>\n

NIV<\/div><\/div>\n

But what about now?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t
John 14:25-27<\/p>\n

“All this I have spoken while still with you. <\/span><\/p>\n

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. <\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span>\nNIV<\/div><\/div>\n

Yes, there will be trouble, but God will bring us through it…<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t
John 16:33<\/p>\n

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”<\/span>\nNIV<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

Lord, I need a Miracle!<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"Lee<\/a>And God provides them! When we turn to Him and place our faith in God, we can overcome life’s difficulties.<\/p>\n

One of the blessings we have at our church is the music of Lee Whitaker. Lee writes and performs his own songs and has released many CDs.\u00a0 His music has (literally) been a blessing to people all over the world.\u00a0 He recently released his latest video where he performs his song “Lord I Need a Miracle.”<\/p>\n

In the face of all of our trials, the Savior who wept over the death of Lazarus and then rose from the dead Himself, walks by our side and comforts us when we reach out to Him in faith.<\/p>\n

God still works miracles in our lives today!<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t