There are two kinds of peace in our lives, namely the peace with God and the peace of God. It is important for us to know the kind of peace that God desires for us. He does not want us to just have peace with Him but the fullness of peace that comes after restoring peace with Him.
Ephesians 2:12 (NKJV) that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
When hope is shattered, we will lose the peace in our lives. It is terrible to live life having no hope and even worse when we do not have God in our lives because it leads to hopelessness. People commit suicide because of hopelessness. Life can be meaningless despite an abundance of material possessions.
Every individual is hoping for peace in their life but nothing in this world seems to be able to provide it. Those who think that money, education, their spouse, or a good job would give them peace and security will be duly disappointed because the peace that they seek, whether for themselves or for the world, is subjective to their surroundings and circumstances. While certain things might provide peace temporarily, they will be lost quickly once there is a turn of events in their lives because the world only offers a very fragile kind of peace.
Mankind knows that we cannot stand right before God because of the sin in our lives. Our conscience will torment us for the wrongs that we have done in our lives. Although many have tried religion, philosophy, and good works to obtain or attain that peace in their hearts, they have all failed miserably because moral laws only help us to know what sin is but do not help us to attain righteousness.
Colossians 1:20 (NKJV) and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
God has accepted us into His family with the birth and redemptive work of Jesus. This kind of peace with God is immovable and will never be shaken by any circumstances in life. It cannot be purchased because the origin is from God. Once the enmity between the holy God and us is settled, we will have restored peace with Him.
God is for us and stands with us. Therefore we can have peace in the most challenging moments. Many of the problems that man experiences stem from the lack of peace or insecurity that caused agitation, anxiety, and unrest, leading to discords and problems, but we have the shalom peace of God. Jesus is the answer to having true peace with God and experiencing peace in our daily living. Peace that surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and minds with this assurance and presence of God in our lives.
Sermon Series: Christmas Message (2023)
与神的平安
在我们的生命中有两种平安，即与神的平安以及神的平安。对我们来说最要紧的是要晓得神渴望我们拥有的是什么样的平安。祂不希望我们只是与祂和好，而是要我们在与祂重修旧好之后，得着完全的平安!
以弗所书 2:12那时，你们与基督无关，在以色列国民以外，在所应许的诸约上是局外人，
并且活在世上没有指望，没有神。
当希望破灭时，我们就会失去生命中的平安。生而无望是很可怕的，而当我们生命中没有神的时候就更加悲惨，因为这终将使人陷入绝望。人自杀是出于绝望。即便是拥有丰盛的物质，生命依旧可能毫无意义。
每个人都渴慕生命中的平安，但是世上找不到任何事物能够提供这种平安。那些以为钱财，学历，配偶或是一份好的工作可以给他们平安和保障的人终将失望，因为他们寻求的平安，无论是为自己还是为世界，都是他们周围环境和境遇的主观选择。虽然某些事物能够提供一时的平安，一旦他们生活中出现转折，他们将很快迷失，因为世界所提供的只是一种非常脆弱的平安。
我们知道因为我们生命中的罪导致我们不能站在主的面前。我们的良知会为了我们在生活中所犯下的错误而折磨我们。尽管许多人尝试过借助宗教，哲学和善行来获得或达到心中的那份平安，最终他们还是在现实中惨败，因为道德律法只能帮助我們知罪，却无法帮助我们取得公义。
歌罗西书 1:20 藉着他在十字架上所流的血，成就了和平，无论是地上的，还是天上的都与我们和好了。
通过耶稣的诞生和救赎工作，上帝接纳了我们进入祂的家庭。这种与神的平安是坚定不移的，生命中发生的任何状况都无法动摇。这种平安无法用钱来购买因为它源自上帝。一旦我们与圣洁的神之间的敌意得到消解，我们将与祂和好如初。
上帝是向着我们的，是与我们站在同一边的。因此即便在最挑战的时刻，我们仍能拥有平安。人类经历的许多问题皆源于缺乏平安或是安全感，从而产生了烦乱，焦虑和不安，导致纷争和问题，而我们却拥有神所赐的平安，耶稣是我们与上帝和好并在日常生活中感受到平安的答案。凭着这个确据以及神在我们生命中的同在，那出人意外的平安必将保守我们的心思意念。
讲章系列： 圣诞节的信息
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