THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT<br> <br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE – 12-13-15

<br> <br>

LESSON TITLE:  “LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE.”<br> <br>



WELCOME<br> <br>

      HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND WELCOME TO THE LIVING WORD PROGRAM ON THIS WONDROUS LORD’S DAY MORNING! NOW HEAR THE WORDS OF THE INSPIRED APOSTLE PAUL, “GOD DEMONSTRATED HIS OWN LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS CHRIST DIED FOR US,” ROMANS 5:8!   PRAISE BE TO GOD FOR THIS WONDROUS TRUTH, THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR US, TO OFFER US SALVATION, ALTHOUGH WE WERE NOT WORTHY OF SUCH!<br> <br>

      THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY IN THIS TIME OF WORSHIP BEFORE GOD. FURTHERMORE, HOW ENJOYABLE IT IS TO WORSHIP OUR GOD THROUGH PRAYER, SONG AND THE STUDY OF HIS MATCHLESS WORD, JUST AS HE HAS COMMANDED US THROUGH THE BIBLE.  WON’T YOU DO YOUR PART THIS MORNING TO SEE THAT OUR WORSHIP TOGETHER IS DONE IN HIS WAY, ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, THAT WE MAY TRULY GLORIFY OUR CREATOR? <br> <br>

      NOW, AS WE BEGIN OUR OFFERING TO GOD, WILL YOU BOW WITH ME IN PRAYER! 

      PRAYER:  OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY AND THE GREAT BLESSINGS OF LIFE. FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE TO BE CALLED YOUR CHILDREN AND TO SERVE YOU EACH AND EVERY DAY. FATHER, WE KNOW THAT ALL GOOD THINGS COME FROM YOU AND SO WE THANK YOU FOR OUR PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS - AND FATHER, HELP US IN THIS LIFE TO LIVE EVERY DAY WITH OUR MIND AND OUR EYES ON JESUS THAT WE MIGHT ALWAYS DO YOUR WILL AND BE FOUND PLEASING IN YOUR SIGHT - AND WHEN THIS LIFE IS OVER FATHER PLEASE GIVE US THAT REWARD OF HEAVEN THAT WE MIGHT LIVE WITH YOU ETERNALLY IN THAT PERFECT PREPARED PLACE FOR THE SAVED. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.<br> <br>

      WELL, IT’S TIME TO JOIN IN OUR SONGS OF PRAISE.  TODAY WE WANT TO BEGIN BY SINGING A SONG WHICH REMINDS US OF THE MAJESTY AND WONDER OF AN ALL POWERFUL GOD!  SO WON’T YOU DO YOUR PART AS WE SING TOGETHER THE FIRST SONG OF THE MORNING - ITS NAME, “THIS IS MY FATHER’S WORLD.” 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

      HOW MANY OF US ARE SATISFIED IN THIS LIFE WHERE WE ARE?  THE REALITY IS, MOST OF US PROBABLY WANT TO GAIN MORE, GROW MORE AND BECOME MORE PRODUCTIVE IN LIFE RATHER THAN JUST STAY WHERE WE ARE!  ALTHOUGH THIS SEEMS TO BE THE NORM, IT IS STRANGE TO ME THAT IN SPIRITUAL MATTERS THINGS ARE OFTEN JUST THE OPPOSITE.  <br> <br>

      CONSIDER FOR A MOMENT HOW MANY OF US ARE GUILTY OF NOT REALLY GROWING A LOT SPIRITUALLY.  HOW MANY OF US ARE ABLE TO SAY THAT WE ARE BETTER CHRISTIANS TODAY THAN THIS TIME LAST YEAR, OR THAT WE HAVE STUDIES AND KNOW EVEN MORE ABOUT OUR GOD THAN EVER BEFORE!   THE REALITY IS, IF WE TAKE A HARD LOOK AND ARE REALLY HONEST WITH OURSELVES MOST OF US ARE PRETTY CONTENT JUST TO STAY WHERE WE ARE IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES, AND IF THAT IS ENOUGH TO GET US TO HEAVEN THEN - SO BE IT! <br> <br>

      BRETHREN AND FRIENDS, I MENTION THESE THINGS BECAUSE THE BIBLE DEALS A LOT WITH THE NEED TO GROW AND TO GO ON TO PERFECTION!   IN FACT, PETER HELPS US OUT WITH THIS IDEA BY SAYING THIS, “AS NEWBORN BABES, DESIRE THE PURE MILK OF THE WORD, THAT YOU MAY GROW THEREBY,” 1 PETER 2:2.  HOWEVER, THE HEBREW WRITER TALKS ABOUT A NEED TO LEAVE THE STATE OF BABYHOOD, IN ORDER THAT WE MIGHT BECOME ADULTS IN CHRIST!   IN HEBREWS 5:13, WE READ, “FOR EVERYONE WHO PARTAKES ONLY OF MILK IS UNSKILLED IN THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR HE IS A BABE.”  THEN ON DOWN IN CHAPTER 6:1, HE PROCLAIMS THAT THEY MUST, “…LEAVE THE DISCUSSION OF THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES OF CHRIST, LET US GO ON TO PERFECTION….”  HERE WE AGAIN SEE THE GREAT NEED TO GO ON TO MATURITY IF WE ARE TO BE PLEASING TO OUR GOD.<br> <br>  

      FINALLY, LET ME ASK US TO CONSIDER THE QUESTION, “WHAT WOULD WE DO IF WE HAD A BABY OR CHILD WHO WASN’T GROWING PROPERLY?”  YOU KNOW THAT WE WOULD TAKE THAT CHILD TO THE DOCTOR TO TRY AND FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS.  WHY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IF YOU FEED A CHILD AND CARE FOR IT PROPERLY, IT IS GOING TO GROW IN SIZE, AND WEIGHT, AS WELL AS MENTALLY.  NOW WHY WOULD IT BE ANY DIFFERENT WITH THOSE WHO CLAIM TO FOLLOW GOD?  IF WE ARE NOT GROWING IN THE THINGS OF CHRIST WE ARE SICK AS WELL AND WE NEED A PHYSICIAN.  IN FACT, THE BIBLE TALKS OF THE GREAT PHYSICIAN, WHO CAN PROVIDE FOR US ALL THAT WE NEED FOR PROPER GROWTH BOTH SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICALLY.  YOU KNOW WHO THAT PHYSICIAN IS, JESUS CHRIST!<br> <br><br> <br>

      SO, LET ME ENCOURAGE US ALL TO REALIZE JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE GROW AND MOVE ON TOWARD MATURITY AS THOSE WHO LOVE GOD.  BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY WE CAN TRULY KNOW HIS WILL AND BE OBEDIENT TO HIS PRECEPTS IS WHEN WE GROW ENOUGH TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTS.  ARE YOU A STUDENT OF GOD’S WORD?  ARE YOU GROWING IN THE THINGS OF CHRIST?  <br> <br>   

      AS FAR AS OUR STUDY, WE WILL AGAIN FOCUS ON OUR THEME, “THE ELECT OF GOD.”  OUR SPECIFIC LESSON OF THE MORNING IS ENTITLED, “LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE.”  SO PLEASE STAY WITH US AND AFTER OUR NEXT SONG TOGETHER I WILL RETURN WITH THE MAIN THOUGHTS OF THE DAY.   BUT FOR NOW LET’S JOIN TOGETHER IN OUR SECOND SONG OF THE MORNING.  THE NAME OF THIS HYMN, “THERE’S NOT A FRIEND.” <br> <br>



LESSON <br> <br>

BY RAY SULLINS<br> <br>

      WE'RE SO GLAD YOU'VE CONTINUED WITH US THIS MORNING AS WE NOW RETURN TO ANOTHER LESSON ABOUT BEING GOOD CHRISTIANS - THE ELECT OF GOD. THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO NOT ONLY KNOW WHAT GOD WOULD DESIRE AND TO LOOK AT THE CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE TAUGHT IN SCRIPTURES, BUT ALSO THOSE WHO THEN APPLY THOSE THINGS IN THEIR LIVES. AND SO TODAY AS WE CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION FROM COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 3 - A SECTION OF PASSAGE BEGINNING IN VERSE 12 THAT TALKS ABOUT THE ELECT OF GOD AND THE FACT THAT THEY ARE CERTAINLY HOLY AND BELOVED.  THAT THEY ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO PUT ON CERTAIN TYPES OF GODLY CHARACTERISTICS; WHO FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER, WHO LOVE ONE ANOTHER, WHO ABOVE ALL THINGS FOCUS ON WHAT GOD COMMANDS. <br> <br>

      WE CONTINUE THERE THIS DAY IN VERSE 15. AND AS HE BUILDS ON THE IDEA OF LOVE CERTAINLY THERE'S NO GREATER PLACE TO GO NEXT THAN TO PEACE - AND SO IN VERSE 15 HE BEGINS TO SAY, “AND LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE IN YOUR HEARTS.” AS WE THINK ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF THE PEACE OF GOD, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL IDEA THAT IS FOUND THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE; OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS ALIKE. CERTAINLY ONE OF THE GREAT ASPECTS OF THE PROCLAMATION OF GOD AND WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR MAN THROUGH GRACE AND LOVE AND MERCY AND OTHER ASPECTS, AND CAN GIVE A PEACE TO MAN THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT IS FRANKLY NOT FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE IN THIS WORLD. <br> <br>

      AND SO WHAT IS THAT IDEA OF A PEACE - A CALMNESS - A SOLACE - THAT WE CAN FIND THROUGH AND BECAUSE OF GOD, BECAUSE OF WHAT HE PROMISES AND WHAT HE ASSURES? WELL, IT IS THAT CONFIDENCE TO KNOW THAT NOT ONLY GOD IS, BUT THAT HE IS THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS AND HAS ALL POWER. THAT CONFIDENCE, TO KNOW, THAT AS A FATHER HE IS GOING TO BLESS US AND GIVE US EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED IN THIS LIFE BOTH PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY. IT IS THAT CONFIDENCE, TO KNOW, THAT GOD IS ALWAYS THERE IN THE DIFFICULT DAYS AND THE GOOD DAYS. THAT THE LORD IS THERE TO PICK US UP WHEN WE FALL. HE IS THERE TO RECEIVE OUR BURDENS AS WE CAST THEM UPON HIM. HE IS THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A WAY OF ESCAPE IN RELATIONSHIP TO TEMPTATION.  AND WHAT ALL OF THESE THINGS DO, AS GOD CONTINUES TO LOVE US AND CARE FOR US AND DELIVER US, IS THEY BRING A SENSE OF PEACE TO OUR HEARTS. THEY GIVE US THE ABILITY TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT ALONE AND BECAUSE GOD IS GOD AND IS SO POWERFUL THAT HE IS ALWAYS GOING TO WORK THINGS FOR GOOD FOR THOSE WHO LOVE THE LORD.  FOR THOSE WHO SERVE HIM AND WHO OBEY HIS WILL.<br> <br>

      I WOULD ASK THEN FIRST OF ALL TO GO BACK TO THE BOOK OF JOHN CHAPTER 14. THERE IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, JOHN RECORDS FOR US AND CLARIFIES FOR US WELL THE IDEA THAT JESUS PRESENTS TO HIS OWN DISCIPLES. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SEE THAT HIS DISCIPLES WERE CERTAINLY CONCERNED ABOUT BEGINNING EARLY ON IN CHAPTER 14 IS THAT THEY WERE ABOUT TO BE LEFT ALONE. AND SO HE BEGINS THERE EARLY ON TALKING ABOUT NOT ALLOWING OUR HEARTS TO BE TROUBLED. HE SAID YOU BELIEVED IN GOD, BELIEVE ALSO IN ME. IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS - YOU ALL REMEMBER THE TEXT VERY WELL - VERSE 6, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE” - JESUS SAID. AND THEN LATER ON HE SAYS: LOOK, I'M NOT GOING TO LEAVE YOU AS ORPHANS. I'M NOT GOING TO LEAVE YOU ALONE. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE HOPELESS. BUT RATHER, DON'T BE TROUBLED - KNOW THAT JESUS AS HE SPEAKS HERE, WILL CONTINUE TO BE WITH YOU AND I'M NOT GOING TO EVER LEAVE YOU ALONE. I'M ALWAYS GOING TO HELP YOU. AND HOW IS HE GOING TO DO THAT? AND WHY WAS HE GONNA DO THAT? WE MIGHT BEGIN WITH THE WHY. HE WAS GOING TO DO IT BECAUSE HE WANTED THEM TO CONTINUE TO HAVE WHAT? PEACE IN LIFE. PEACE THROUGH GOD - TO HAVE THAT CONFIDENCE AND THAT COMFORT TO KNOW THAT GOD WAS EVER WITH THEM AND ALWAYS DOING WHAT WAS BEST. <br> <br>

      BUT NOTICE WHAT HE SAYS IN RELATIONSHIP TO HOW HE WAS GOING TO PROVIDE THAT. DROP DOWN IF YOU WILL TO VERSE 25 WITH ME OF JOHN 14 AND HERE'S WHAT HE CONTINUES TO SAY, “THESE THINGS I'VE SPOKEN TO YOU WHILE BEING PRESENT WITH YOU.” SEE, HE'S TALKING TO THEM IN PERSON. BUT HE SAYS, “BUT THE HELPER, THE HOLY SPIRIT,” HIMSELF, “WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, HE WILL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS, AND BRING TO YOUR REMEMBRANCE ALL THINGS THAT I SAID TO YOU.” WHAT WAS JESUS GOING TO DO? YEAH, WELL HE WAS ABOUT TO RETURN TO THE FATHER. BUT HE SAYS THE FATHER AND I AREN'T GOING TO LEAVE YOU ALONE. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ORPHANED. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE WONDERING WHAT TO DO OR WALKING AROUND, AS MAYBE A CHICKEN WITH YOUR HEAD CUT OFF. BUT I'M GOING TO SEND YOU GOD IN THE SPIRIT. I'M GOING TO SEND GOD TO BE WITH YOU AND HE'S GOING TO, NOT ONLY TEACH YOU ALL THINGS, HE'S GOING TO HAVE YOU TO REMEMBER EVERYTHING THAT I'VE INSTRUCTED YOU. <br> <br>

      NOW, WHAT KIND OF CONFIDENCE WAS THAT GOING TO GIVE THEM? WHAT WAS THE THE BENEFIT, THE RESULT OF KNOWING THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ALONE AND THAT GOD WAS GOING TO CONTINUE TO DWELL WITH THEM IN AND THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT INSIDE OF THEIR PHYSICAL BODIES. WELL, NOTICE WHAT HE SAYS IN VERSE 27, “PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU, MAY 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.” WHY? JESUS GOES ON TO CLARIFY – I CAN DO WHAT I SAY. I AM GOD. JESUS GOES ON TO CLARIFY AS THE FATHER HATH PROMISED: I PROMISE YOU'LL NOT BE ALONE. YOU WILL HAVE PEACE BECAUSE I WILL CONTINUE TO BE WITH YOU AND THE FATHER WILL CONTINUE TO BE WITH YOU THROUGH THE SPIRIT. AND BY THE WAY, GUESS WHAT HE HAS JUST TALKED ABOUT BACK IN VERSE 23 OF THE SAME PASSAGE RIGHT AFTER MENTIONING THAT HE WOULD NOT LEAVE THEM AS ORPHANS? HE TELLS THEM IN VERSE 23, “IF ANYONE LOVES ME, HE WILL KEEP MY WORD; AND MY FATHER WILL LOVE HIM, AND WE WILL COME TO HIM AND MAKE OUR HOME WITH HIM.” YOU SEE, A HOME IN HIM...HOW? HE GOES ON A FEW VERSES LATER AND SAYS: BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. BY AND THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT WILL DWELL IN YOU AND WILL GIVE YOU THAT PEACE OF GOD. BECAUSE GOD IS WHAT? ALWAYS WITH YOU. ISN'T IT BEAUTIFUL TO KNOW THAT GOD NEVER LEAVES US? THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING ALONE OR FORSAKEN? BUT WE HAVE THE PEACE OF GOD BECAUSE GOD DWELLS IN US THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT! AND CERTAINLY IN CONNECTION TO THE WORD AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE WORD, THE SPIRIT DWELLS IN US.  NOT APART FROM IT BUT WE STILL SEE THE GREAT STRENGTH THEN THAT WE FIND IN AND THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO DWELLS IN US IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT WORD, THE CONFIDENCE AND ASSURANCE THAT WE HAVE EVEN IN THE SCRIPTURE ITSELF TO KNOW THAT GOD HAS NOT FORSAKEN US. THE CONFIDENCE THAT GOD IS WITH US. THATE GOD WILL PROVIDE FOR US. HE'LL CARE FOR US AND PROTECT US AND ON AND ON AND ON. <br> <br>

      ANOTHER PLACE THAT WE SEE SOMETHING CONCERNING OUR MAIN TEXT, OF COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 3, IS THAT THE PEACE OF GOD WILL RULE IN OUR HEARTS. I WANT YOU TO NOTICE SOMETHING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE OVER IN THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 4, A TEXT THAT IS VERY FAMILIAR IN CONNECTION TO THE PEACE OF GOD. IN VERSE 6 HE'S ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT BEING ANXIOUS OR HAVING ANXIETIES OR WORRIES ABOUT THE THINGS OF THIS LIFE. AND HE SAID YOU KNOW YOU SHOULDN'T WORRY BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE ABILITY BY PRAYER TO NOT ONLY THANK GOD BUT TO MAKE SUPPLICATION OF YOUR GOD AND FATHER. AND GUESS WHAT GOD THE FATHER WILL DO? HE HEARS YOUR PRAYERS AND HE ANSWERS YOUR PRAYERS. AND SO HE SAYS TO THEM - DON'T BE ANXIOUS. DON'T BE WORRISOME. BUT RATHER KNOW THAT, AS YOU MAKE REQUESTS OF GOD, GOD WILL HEAR AND GRANT THOSE REQUESTS. AND GUESS WHAT HE THEN SAYS IS THE RESULT OF THAT? JUST LIKE HE TOLD THE DISCIPLES IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, HERE IN VERSE 7 HE SAYS, “AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS.” THERE IT IS AGAIN - THE PEACE OF GOD. GOD, THE GOD OF PEACE. THAT GOD WHO ALONE HAS THE ABILITY BECAUSE HE IS ALL POWERFUL, AND THE CREATOR OF ALL, AND ALL-KNOWING, AND EVERYWHERE AT ALL TIMES. THEREFORE HE IS ABLE TO BE INVOLVED IN EVERY FACET, EVERY DETAIL OF OUR LIVES. THAT GOD - THE GOD OF PEACE, THAT PEACE OF THAT GOD - WILL DO WHAT? IT WILL GUARD OUR HEARTS AND MINDS. A PEACE THAT HE EMPHASIZES HERE IS REALLY BEYOND OUR UNDERSTANDING. <br> <br>

      WHY WOULD GOD GIVE ME THAT PIECE OR OFFER ME SUCH PEACE? WHAT HAVE I DONE FOR GOD OTHER THAN LET HIM DOWN? OTHER THAN SIN AGAINST HIM FROM TIME TO TIME? OTHER THAN LIVE IN A WORLD AND SOMETIMES CHOOSE TO BE LIKE THE WORLD. YOU SEE, IT IS ONLY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT OFFERS US SUCH THINGS BECAUSE WE REALLY ARE NOT WORTHY AND WE REALLY OFTEN DO NOT PROVE OURSELVES TO BE WORTHY. BUT THAT PEACE OF GOD WHICH IS BEYOND OUR UNDERSTANDING AND COMPREHENSION WHY HE WOULD CONTINUE TO LOVE US AND OFFER US SUCH PEACE WILL THEN GUARD OUR HEARTS AND MINDS. MEANING THAT THE WHOLE ESSENCE OF MAN, THE VERY DEPTHS OF OUR HEARTS, AND THAT EMOTIONAL PART OF THE SOUL, WILL BE GUARDED BY GOD. BUT NOT ONLY THAT BUT ALSO OUR MINDS - THE VERY PART OF WHO WE ARE. THE VERY PART OF MAN THAT MAKES US WHO WE ARE IN RELATIONSHIP TO OUR CHARACTER, AND OUR PERSONALITY, AND ALL OF THOSE ASPECTS. THE PEACE OF GOD WILL GUARD OUR FULL MAN WHETHER IT'S THE COMPASSIONATE, EMOTIONAL PART OF THE HEART OR THE MIND OF MAN. <br> <br>

      DO YOU SEE HOW IMPORTANT PEACE IS? DO YOU SEE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT PEACE CAN DO FOR US? AND WHY WHEN WE RETURN THEN TO COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 3:15 WHEN PAUL SAYS, THERE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE IN YOUR HEARTS, WE TRULY THEN UNDERSTAND THAT THAT PEACE HAS THE ABILITY TO OVERCOME WHATEVER THE TRIAL, OR WHATEVER THE DIFFICULTY, WHATEVER THE PROBLEM OF LIFE - IT HAS THAT ABILITY TO GIVE US THAT COMFORT AND ABILITY TO DEAL WITH THE THINGS OF LIFE IN A WAY THAT NOTHING ELSE IN THIS WORLD CAN. AND I REALLY LIKE THE WAY HE ALSO ADDS THERE IN COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 3 THAT IT WILL RULE OUR HEARTS. I MIGHT ASK THE QUESTION: WHAT DO YOU ALLOW THIS WORLD TO RULE YOUR LIFE? DO YOU ALLOW THIS WORLD TO RULE YOUR LIFE" DO YOU ALLOW MAYBE THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD TO RULE YOUR LIFE? DO YOU ALLOW SATAN TO RULE YOUR LIFE? DO YOU ALLOW OTHERS TO RULE YOUR LIFE? DO YOU ALLOW MAYBE BAD THOUGHTS TO RULE YOUR LIFE? YOU SEE, A LOT OF THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO DO WHAT? BRING DISTRESS. BRING TRIAL. BRING PROBLEMS. BRING WORRIES. BUT HE SAYS HERE: IF WE'LL ALLOW THE PEACE OF GOD....AGAIN, HAVING JUST BUILT ON THE LOVE OF GOD WHICH IS - WELL, IS A LOVE THAT IS REALLY BEYOND COMPREHENSION. A LOVE THAT CAUSES THAT BOND OF PERFECTION; THAT GLUE THAT TIES US, NOT ONLY TO GOD, BUT TO ONE ANOTHER. WHEN WE HAVE GOD, WHEN WE HAVE EACH OTHER AND WE ALLOW OUR HEARTS TO BE RULED BY THE PEACE OF GOD, OHHH - HOW MUCH BETTER LIFE IS. OHHH - HOW MUCH MORE COMFORTING GOD IS WITHIN OUR LIVES AND HOW MUCH EASIER IT IS TO TURN THOSE BURDENS ALL OVER TO A FATHER WHO REALLY CARES. <br> <br>

      YOU KNOW, AS A FATHER I CAN TELL YOU THAT IF I AM ABLE TO ALLEVIATE OR REMOVE ANY OF THE BURDENS OF MY CHILDREN - CERTAINLY AS A FATHER I'M WILLING TO DO THAT. I OFTEN TRY TO DO THAT. AND I WANT TO TAKE AWAY THOSE PAINS THAT I KNOW THEY'VE GOT TO GO THROUGH, THAT THEY'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH - THOSE HEARTACHES OF LIFE AND I'D LIKE TO JUST SNATCH THEM AWAY. BUT I KNOW IF THEY DON'T EXPERIENCE THOSE THINGS AND THEY DON'T REALLY DEAL WITH THEM THEMSELVES THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO ON AND MAKE IT IN LIFE AS THEY OUGHT OR AS THEY NEED TO. BUT IT'S HARD FOR A FATHER TO SEE A CHILD SUFFER OR STRUGGLE OR HAVE HEARTACHE. BUT AS WE THINK ABOUT THAT, WE STILL HAVE TO REMEMBER HERE THAT GOD IS OUR FATHER AND ALSO WOULD FIND IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUR HEARTACHE AND SORROW. AND SO THEREFORE, WHAT DOES HE DO FOR US THROUGH JESUS CHRIST? HE OFFERS US PEACE. A PEACE THAT IS BEYOND UNDERSTANDING. A PEACE THAT SURPASSES THAT UNDERSTANDING - THAT WOULD ACTUALLY GUARD THAT HEART AND THAT COMPASSIONATE MAN AND THAT HEARTBREAK - AND WILL ACTUALLY THEN ALSO GUARD THE MIND OF MAN; THE THINGS THAT ARE ON OUR OUR MINDS WHEN WE THINK OF WHO WE ARE - AND IT WILL IN EVERY SITUATION OF LIFE, EVERY DAY AND MOMENT OF LIFE, GIVE US THAT PEACE AND THAT COMFORT THAT WE NEED, KNOWING THAT GOD IS RIGHT THERE. THAT GOD IS WITHIN US THROUGH HIS SPIRIT. THAT GOD IS GOING TO GIVE US THAT COMFORT AND HELP US TO DEAL WITH THAT BURDEN, THAT WE MIGHT ULTIMATELY BE THOSE AS WE READ HERE WHO HAVE ALLOWED THE PEACE OF GOD TO RULE OUR HEARTS, TO BE LORD OF OUR HEARTS BECAUSE GOD IS PEACE - GOD IS LOVE. <br> <br>

      YOU SEE, WHEN WE ALLOW GOD TO SIT ON THE THRONE OF OUR HEARTS BECAUSE HE IS A GOD OF PEACE, AND LOVE, AND GRACE, AND MERCY, AND ALL THESE THINGS - THEN THESE THINGS RULE US. AND WHEN THEY RULE US, GUESS WHAT THAT DOES TO OUR LIVES? IT MAKES OUR LIVES AND OUR EXISTENCE SO MUCH BETTER, SO MUCH A GREATER BLESSING FOR US ALL. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TODAY TO UNDERSTAND, NOT ONLY THE PEACE OF GOD, BUT TO REALIZE WHAT THE PEACE OF GOD CAN DO IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU ALLOW YOUR HEARTS TO BE RULED BY IT, SO THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE NOT ONLY THAT COMFORT AND THAT HELP IN TIME OF NEED, BUT THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CAN TURN THINGS OVER TO GOD AND THAT GOD AS YOUR FATHER IS GOING TO CARE FOR YOU AS A CHILD. BUT IF YOU ARE NOT HAVING SUCH IN YOUR LIFE AND IF YOU HAVE NOT GIVEN THAT COMMITMENT, MAKE SURE TODAY THAT YOU TURN TO GOD AND YOU FIND THAT PEACE. YOU DO WHAT'S ESSENTIAL TO BE FOUND FAITHFUL THAT HE'LL APPLY SUCH GIFTS TO YOU. AND NOT ONLY THE GIFT OF PEACE BUT THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE. WILL YOU SERVE GOD TODAY?

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CLOSING COMMENTS<br> <br>

      WHAT A BLESSING IT HAS BEEN TO JOIN TOGETHER IN THE THINGS OF GOD THIS MORNING.  THANK YOU FOR DOING YOUR PART IN MAKING ALL THESE THINGS TO BE ACCORDING TO HIS WILL.  AS ALWAYS, WE INVITE YOU BACK EVERY LORD’S DAY MORNING AT 7:30, AS WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO THIS OFFERING FOR GOD!<br> <br>  

      BUT FOR NOW, LET ME ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT TODAY’S LESSON?  MAYBE, YOU WOULD LIKE A FREE TRANSCRIPT OR A CASSETTE TAPE OF THIS PROGRAM?  POSSIBLY, WE COULD ASSIST YOU WITH FREE BIBLE MATERIALS OR CORRESPONDENCE COURSES?  NO MATTER WHAT YOUR NEED IS, PLEASE CONTACT US AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:  <br> <br>

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      HOW BLESSED WE ARE TO HAVE PROMISE FROM GOD OF COMPLETE PEACE AND SOLACE.  MAY WE ALL LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE IN OUR LIVES SO THAT WE WILL TRULY EXPERIENCE THIS WONDROUS GIFT AND PROMISE OF CREATOR!