A Peace-filled Journey
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Greg Waybright
- Acts 16:22-25 & Philippians 4:6-9
- Synced - A Spirit-Synced Way of Life
- 40 mins 50 secs
- Views: 2304
Daily Devotional
Synced Daily Devotionals Week 3
Peace - Week 3
Monday
Luke 2.14
14 Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth for those pleasing Him.
How do we obtain peace when our lives are not tranquil?
The context of Luke 2.14 shows the birth of Jesus being the ultimate example of bringing peace to earth. This peace was not obtained through an easy life or a simple road. Jesus entered the world in the midst of hardship and trials.
It is natural to attempt to gain peace through our own planning. I rejoice with many young families as they are planning the arrival of their first child. There is a birth plan, packed bags, meal plans, and family and friends waiting in the wings to swoop in and care when eyes are heavy and brains are fuzzy.
However, this was not how Mary and Joseph planned for the birth of their first child, the Savior of the world. They had a rocky start to say the least!
Their marriage hadn’t even begun. They were still getting to know each other. They were traveling. They weren’t in their hometown. They weren’t even in a home. But they had true tranquility of spirit because God was in control and His plan was much larger than theirs or anything they could imagine. They had peace and were honored to be a part of God’s great plan.
Mary and Joseph didn’t have friends or family to bring them a meal, but they had angels proclaiming the birth of their son. The angels sang “glory to God in the highest and peace on earth.” Jesus, the Son of God, had been born. The heavens declared His glory. True peace was coming to earth.
Jesus is ultimate peace. He was tranquility born in the midst of turmoil. When our world seems to churn and spin we can find true rest and peace in the presence of our Savior. Just like Mary and Joseph, we can come to the feet of Savior Jesus Christ and find rest from our torment in the peace of His presence. Plans and preparation are not what bring peace. The presence of God in our lives, and His power working through us, is what brings peace in the midst of this world’s chaos. Therefore, instead of planning to obtain peace, plan to connect and commune with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
~Melinda Manus
Tuesday
Luke 10:5-6
5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you.
Jesus did it again... He flipped the script.
The 72 disciples (who had been sent 2 by 2) used the phrase “peace to you” for generations and now Jesus has reframed it and said to ask for “peace to this house.” Jesus has us beginning with a blessing to bring shalom. This peace that passes understanding immediately catches their attention because the phrase is different than what had been spoken for generations. The Jewish greeting is now been updated to bring peace to the physical space rather than just an individual. I wonder what it would have been like to be one of the original disciples going out door-to-door, almost like today’s interns, with a phrase that had not been spoken before as a greeting. I can imagine they were greeted with confusion and questions, which naturally was a beginning point to talk about the kingdom of God that they were about to encounter.
Much has been written about Christians offering hospitality. This is not only a strong call for what we are to offer, it is also a call for Christians to be gracious receivers of hospitality regardless of whether the giver is a follower of Christ, no matter their skin color, gender, age, socioeconomic status, etc.
The early church depended on the hospitality of others. The message is about more than peace: it's about the Christian needing to know how to accept hospitality from others. The implications around the theology of “guest” means we are to respect each other. We are to find comfort in homes of people. It means we pay attention to each other and most of all we bring peace to the home we find ourselves in. We enter into the place of others embodying the message of peace. We represent the tribe of Jesus followers… a tribe that brings peace with us.
It also assumes we have something to offer everyone, not just Christians. There's also an implication that Christians need to find themselves accepting hospitality from others, even those that are not Christians. Ask yourself: where do you find hospitality from non-Christians?
I have recently found myself a guest in the home of an Algerian woman who has overwhelmed me with her hospitality. I have learned new cultural cues, like don't empty your plate or she will fill it again! Or, take care not to mention something similar that you have enjoyed or she will run to the store the next morning and buy it for you. This Arab hospitality is beyond anything I've ever experienced and I recognize that my role is not to out-give her or resist her gifts, but instead to extend the blessing of peace.
Imagine if we were to greet others saying “I would love for you to experience peace that passes understanding in your home and family.” This would be quite different than the greeting that evangelical Christians are too often known for. We are often painted as judge and jury rather than speakers of peace and blessing.
Now go out and get invited into a home (preferably someone who is different from you) where you have an opportunity to speak peace and blessing to the physical space that you walk into.
~Curt Gibson
Wednesday
Luke 19.37-40
Have you ever felt an overwhelming gratitude and you just start singing, smiling or praising God? The kind of sudden joy while driving or walking by yourself and you start singing. Sometimes it’s triggered by a song, a thought of a new born child, or a thought of a person that lifts you up (mentor, parent, friend, pastor, etc.). How about when you think of God’s faithfulness and the mercy he shows in your life?
I was once invited to visit a Celebrate Recovery ministry at a church in Los Angeles. Celebrate Recovery is a biblically-based recovery program that provides a safe place in a Christ-centered community. When we arrived at this meeting, I quickly picked up the positive energy in the room starting from the greeter at the door. She was ready to tell us all about her experience through this ministry. We then made our way to the first part of the service for food and socialization. Once we introduced ourselves as guests, we were made to feel at home.
The second part of the service was held in the main sanctuary where we worshiped together for about an hour. Every speaker and worship leader that came up to the stage introduced themselves and said what they are recovering from. These were not easy topics to share in public but it’s part of the healing process. Some of the people are recovering from multiple issues like sexual addiction, food addiction, co-dependency, history of abuse, and many other challenges.
When the worship time started, I was amazed by the power of their worship. It was genuine, total surrender and full of the Spirit. It was evident that their joy and peace came from the freedom they experience in Christ. This is their time of peace after many years of struggle and defeat.
They are daily reminded about their dependence on God because of this recovery process. Their choice of songs are about God’s amazing grace, being made new, looking to God, asking God to do what he wants, and how much he loves them.
In Luke 19: 37-40, we read how the disciples suddenly start praising God in a loud voice when they remembered the miracles Jesus has done.
37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
We all struggle daily with some type of addiction as a result of sin (e.g., anger, lust, gossip, love of money, pride, etc.). Maybe we all should be in recovery! Let us all praise God for the peace that comes from experiencing his faithfulness and healing power.
~Tsega Worku
Thursday
Luke 24.36-40
36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.
The disciples were gathered together. Peter had seen the empty tomb. There was a report of Jesus appearing on the road to Emmaus. But Jesus had not appeared to his closest followers yet.
I wonder how they felt? They must have been sad. Their friend, mentor, teacher, and leader was dead. But they must have also been confused and perhaps a bit hopeful. Jesus’ body was missing and there was this report of him appearing to some people.
It’s in the midst of this confusing and emotional time that Jesus appears among them. He says, “Peace be with you,” in the same way that angels often do in the Scritpures. This (Jesus’ appearance among them despite having died and him speaking to them as well) totally freaked the disciples out! They were scared! Was Jesus a ghost or what?
Now Jesus could have scolded them here. He could have said, “You know, I predicted my death and resurrection lots of times when I was alive. Were y’all not listening or what!?” But instead, Jesus patiently and peacefully explained to them what had happened, showing them his wounds.
Jump to today – has Jesus changed? Nope. Not one little bit! He still does things in our lives that freak us out and make us question him. And while he could be on all our cases about our lack of faith, he isn’t. Instead, he extends peace to us.
He offers us his shalom. Shalom is a Hebrew word which means “peace” but it’s so much more than simply that! It means “wholeness, completeness, fulfillment.” When Jesus extends his peace to us, it’s much more than the cessation of strife in our lives. Instead, Jesus gives us his shalom, which is exactly what we need to be all that he created us to be!
Lord Jesus, send us your shalom!
~Matt Barnes
Friday
John 14.25-27
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, 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. 27 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.”
In John 16 Jesus tells his disciples again, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.” Let’s be really honest for a moment. When trouble comes, when push comes to shove, when the heat is on, and when life is not going the way you want it to go…where do you turn? Where do you look to find security and peace? We know the right answer because we just read it in Scripture. I am asking us to be honest about what we do when those times come.
If you are like me, then you try to control the situation and get things back on track with your agenda and your best interest, because of course that’s what God would want, right? Sometimes the situation is out of my control so I settle for the alternative of getting as much information as possible so that at least I understand why things are going the way they are going. My smartphone has trained me to find peace and security in getting any information I need right when I need it. I have an “app” to solve every problem that might come my way.
Now, because I am a follower of Jesus, of course I am praying this entire time. My prayers sometimes sound like this, “God, please help me out of this trouble, take the pain and confusion and problems away. Help me get out of this trouble and give me peace and security.” If you are like me, you have discovered that these strategies don’t often result in peace.
Peace does not come from control. Peace does not come from more information. Peace does not come from simply changing our circumstances and taking the trouble away. There is only one source of real peace – in Jesus. In this world we will have trouble, but Jesus says “take heart! I have overcome the world.” And with the promised Holy Spirit Jesus gives us this gift, “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.”
Abiding in Jesus. That sounds like a much better strategy for peace. Has trouble come to you? Take a moment and thank God that He has given us his Holy Spirit and as we rest and abide in him. He will bring fruit that results in peace.
~John Secrest
Saturday
John 20.21-22
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
Peace is defined as “a state of tranquility, quiet as freedom from civil disturbance.” It is “a time of security and order”. Note that in verse 21 the disciples are fearful of the Jewish leaders and they are meeting behind closed, maybe even locked, doors. They were in a time of fear, anxiety, doubt and insecurity.
They felt alone.
And at this time of anxiety, who shows up but Jesus. He comes to comfort them, to remind them of their calling of being sent ones into this world.
Every single one of us has been in this situation, haven’t we? We don’t know where to turn and this causes great distress and uncertainty to build within us. We can’t see beyond the present, and in these situations we see little hope of solution or resolve.
I have found that these are the very times when God wants us to turn to Him the most, putting our complete trust in what is ahead when He is in control of our lives.
In Psalm 46.10 we are reminded to “Be still and know that I am God.” This is so hard to do, but God wants us to live with great peace. We can be certain that every step we take is ordered by Him. We have nothing to fear.
I’m reminded of one of the newer songs we have learned as a church family called “Nothing Ever,” written by Ben Calhoun and Seth Mosley. It is based on the scripture found in Romans 8.38-39 and clearly states that “our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away.”
Nothing can ever separate us now that Christ has brought us unending peace, just like He did for the disciples that day as they hid away in seclusion. Separation from someone we trust can cause anxiety and doubt, and it can remove any peace we may desperately need to make it through difficult situations.
When you get a chance, listen to the song, “Nothing Ever” from our Shared Faith CD. The words of this song offer great hope when times of despair and doubt come our way. And, they most certainly will come as we continue to live on this earth. We need to remember these promises. “Peace to You” was not only a greeting like Shalom, but on an individual level this peace secures composure in difficult times of trouble and dissolves fear. This peace should rule within the hearts of those who know Him.
Believers are sent into a world filled with discord, unrest and daily events that can cause worry. We are not sent unarmed. Instead, we are armed with supernatural peace, if only we will avail ourselves of it.
~Duane Funderburk
Study Notes
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Synced: A Peace Filled Journey Chinese Translation
一個充滿平安的人生旅程
加拉太書5:23;腓立比書4：4-13
自2015年秋天以來，我一直在與大家談論有關與聖靈同行的美妙生活。人類的
生命是如此復雜和具有多面性，有時人們似乎已經無法招架。我想你一定明白我在說什麽。人們在這種境況下感到痛苦是很正常的，他們會說：“我的父母要我做一件事，我的朋友要我做另一件事，而我內心的欲望卻將我拉向一個絕然不同的方向。”這個圖片顯明了許多人每一天的感覺：http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3642/3338228192_a507f88d91.jpg
在加拉太書5：15-21中，使徒保羅呼召我們與聖靈保持一致的步調。他還告訴我們，不與神同行、反被自己的欲望或世界的價值觀所牽引和驅動的生命，是處在何等的狀況之中。聖經說，這樣的生命在短期內看起來似乎是沒什麽問題，但最終會導致“貪圖虛名，彼此惹氣，拉幫結派，互相嫉妒......”接著，在22-23節，保羅說，與聖靈同行的人，會創造出和諧的人生。他使用了水果的比喻。我知道，一個水果不像一個人的生命那樣復雜，但每一種水果都有幾個組成部分。幾個星期前，我給大家看過一個蘋果的剖面圖來說明這一點。現在我要給大家看一個桃子的剖面圖：http://rlv.zcache.com/just_feeling_peachy_peach_anatomy_humor_wrappingpaper-
r5d8d51ef5cca4d43be8d4a623ad6c525_zkknp_1024.jpg?rlvnet=1
當你的生命被聖靈引導，與神的話語融合在一起時，這個生命就將如這幅圖畫所描述的那樣：“一切盡都完美”！無論世上有何等的困難和爭競，這樣的生命都是完整的。你不渴慕這樣的生命嗎？
我們中間有許多人曾寫信給我，或告訴我，當自己在面對各方的要求和壓力時，聖靈的帶領與同行有著何等的意義。我曾經從許多律師、教師和母親們那裏聽到關於這樣的見證。其中最典型的，是威廉·林賽博士通過電子郵件發給我的見證，他是我們教會忠心的會友。
比爾在通信科學領域是國際知名的專家，在深空衛星通信系統架構的建造、工程、設計、分析和仿真方面有著豐富經驗。他曾在通信和信息理論領域裏，在許多主題上發表了超過140篇論文，並擁有多項專利。這些專利在世界各地的通信衛星系統和移動通信接受器已經得到實施，他寫信給我說：
“聖靈所結的果子的各種成分，都生長在一個花托狀的結構中。（自然中最基本的結構）正如Greg牧師使用蘋果的例子所指出的那樣。
在我的日常生活中，我力爭靠著與聖靈同行而活，這與我以往偏離神，並且靠著與罪的本性而活的那些日子相反。與此相似，所有的現代通信系統在接受信號時，必須與信號的純度同步。有瑕疵的同步通信系統，會導致傳輸的失敗！量子通信系統和網絡必須是偏振同步，以求在信號傳輸時，達到所需要的純度。願我們在日常生活中，“靠著聖靈與神同行”，這是寫在聖經中的“上帝之聲”。我願如此祈禱，阿門！
威廉·林賽博士
今天，當我們的生活沒有與神同行，反而與一些毀壞的東西同行的時候，我們就要思考，我們內在的生命到底發生了什麽。在腓立比書中，保羅用“焦慮”這個詞來表明一個沒有與神同行的生命。與此相反，聖靈在我們裏面所產生的，是“平安”（Shalom）的生命。
平安是什麽？
在聖經中談到的平安，是想象中最美麗的事物之一。平安的生命，就是生命本來應當有的樣式。在它裏面，每一個錯誤都已得到承認、獲得原諒、並且被糾正。每一種敵意都已終止，每一種斷裂都已得到醫治，每一個破碎的關系都已得到和解。希伯來文內涵豐富，許多社會群體都會使用它，例如，“shalom”，平安這個詞語。使徒保羅在腓立比書4節2-3中談到它，他談到平安，因為當時的教會中有兩個女人彼此爭鬥。但是，他的主要觀點是，當我們敞開心，神的靈就會在你我的心中產生內在的平安，也就是真正的平安，其中不再有我們許多人為之掙紮的動蕩和分裂。在第6節中，保羅用以下的這句話開始他的論述：“應當一無掛慮…，”他在第9節做了結束：“賜平安的 神就必與你們同在。”
所以，與內心的平靜相反的是內心的焦慮。保羅所使用的“掛慮”這個詞，不是指當我們愛一個人、了解他們所經歷的困境時我們所背負的重擔，不是的。它是指當我們的生活完全亂了方寸之時被撕裂或心碎的感覺。你有沒有過這種感覺？
如果你沒有，那麽讓我來告訴你，大多數美國人是如何看待焦慮的。最近的一項研究表明，80％的美國人承認自己正在經歷高壓力和嚴重的焦慮。是的，80％！遠遠超過世界上任何一個做這項評估的國家。正因為如此，我預計這個主題對在座的很多人而言都是很重要的。它有多重要呢？
八年前，美國心理學協會進行了一項研究，3/4的美國人在指定月份裏曾體驗到了與焦慮相關的癥狀：77％報告了身體的癥狀; 73％報告了心理的癥狀。金錢、工作和人際關系是導致焦慮的主要因素。焦慮的外在癥狀有：疲勞（51%）；心率不齊（51%）；頭痛（44%）；腸胃問題（34%）……還有許多人有各樣的自殺傾向。
所有的跡象都表明一個事實，實際情況變得比2008年做相關研究的時候更糟。畢竟我們從那時候起經歷了嚴重的經濟危機。現在，似乎在年輕人中與焦慮有關的問題尤其嚴重 ---- 從中學生到大學生。
艾米·諾弗妮在美國心理學協會發表了題目為“壓力之下的學生”的文章，她說，根據2013年國家大學健康評估對來自150多個大學中的125，000個學生做了調查，“大約有1/2的大學生說，他們感覺到生活中極大的焦慮”。
其他的一些數據更加驚人：超過30%的尋求精神健康服務的學生報告說，他們嚴肅地思考過自殺企圖，這個數字是從2010年的24%上升至此的。諾弗妮寫道：“在過去的十年期間，心理咨詢機構工作者們不斷強調，大學生的精神健康出現了問題，並且越來越糟。”
類似的問題在初中生和高中生中也有報道。我們自己教會的學生們就曾告訴過我，焦慮的問題在他們之間很盛行，尤其是對於得到好成績、健美的體型、以及完成關於運動及其他方面的期望上。布瑞·梅耶是服事教會的中學至大學的同工，他寫了下面這些話給我：從高中到29歲的人們中，大部分人都對未來感到焦慮。進入大學、畢業之後尋找工作、交異性朋友、尋找另一半的問題，是最令我所服事的人群焦慮的一些問題。
這就是我們所生活的世界。當我們跟隨耶穌、有聖靈同在的時候，祂就改變了一切。當世界充滿了焦慮的時候，我們應當經歷平安。怎樣才能如此呢？我們如何才能在一個充滿焦慮的文化中經歷平安呢？
平安如何在我們內心成長？
在這個講道系列的每一周中，我們都看到，聖靈的果子的成熟長大，並不是因著我們努力遵守規矩、或者靠著自己的力量而得來的。對於平安來說，也是如此。在腓力比書4：11中，保羅說，“我不論在什麽境況下，都可以知足”。他並不是天生的樂天派。不是的。這種平安是後天在他內心生長和成熟的。在你的內心也將如此。
然而，永遠不要忘記，當保羅在告訴我們不要掛慮、內心要充滿平安的時候，他正在監獄之中。而且，這並不是他第一次被困在孤獨潮濕的牢房裏。另外，保羅似乎不是天生就擁有臨危不亂的個性的人。實際上，保羅那時候似乎脾氣善變。在腓力比書4：6-9節中，保羅告訴我們他是如何在那樣的境遇中學習經歷平安的。下面我就將聖靈的果子在他內心成長的三點建議告訴大家，並且希望大家能夠思考。
但是我要先說明一點。當我給你這三點建議的時候，你可能會想：“不會這麽簡單”。因此，我要告訴你，我認為這三點都是神將祂的平安充滿你的基礎。同時，對於那些深受焦慮之苦的人來說，神也將其他資源提供給他們，比如優秀的基督徒咨詢治療中心，當人的生理治療對焦慮無能為力的時候，有一些適當的默想療法，能提高食欲、睡眠和運動習慣等等。
不過我仍然相信下面這三點相關的建議是非常重要的，那就是：禱告，思想和監督。
建議之一：禱告：應當一無掛慮，只要凡事藉著禱告，祈求，和感謝，將你們所要的告訴神。神所賜出人意外的平安……(4:6-7)
你可能會預見到，當你焦慮的時候，聖經會告訴你，要禱告。事實也是如此。然而，我相信這個禱告是一種特殊的禱告，它有著改變的大能。保羅有這樣的教導：你應識別那些令你產生焦慮的狀況。他說：“在所有境況中……”我有太多次都發現，這種“狀況”，是人們認定的某些一定要發生的事，或者一定要擁有的東西。他們認為只要有了這些才會有平安。因此，他們不能滿足於信靠神。相反的，他們的平安是依靠某種東西和狀況。讓我清楚地告訴你這一點：平安無法起始於你的內心，除非你了解到這個事實：那就是，如果你的平安是依賴於這個世界的某樣東西，那麽你永遠都不會有平安。保羅說，在任何境況中，你都應當如此禱告: “我以為我可以從那個東西中 ----比如成就這個目標之後、建立那個關系之後……得到平安，但是，主啊，我現在承認，這些東西中沒有一樣能帶來平安。我把這件事帶到你的面前，交托給你。”
在我的生活中，我發現我不得不一次又一次地回到這一點上，將一切交托給神。我們也許很自然地想到，我們是通過自己的努力和爭取來得到平安。就像提姆·凱樂所說的：“除非你認識到你無法使自己滿足，你才會滿足。”
“在每種狀況中，都將一切交托給神……”那麽，哪種狀況使你焦慮呢？你是否害怕未來的某些事情？是否有人對你有所期盼，而你覺得自己無法達到那樣的目標？我讓你做的事情，不像現代藝術家托比·阿倫所做的，與精神疾病奮戰。在他的藝術作品中，他將自己為之掙紮的幾個不同的領域變成卡通怪物。他說：“藝術幫助我認清困擾我的事情。最初，我將自己的焦慮想象為怪物，而且發現，把它們畫出來就是一個醫治的過程。”他這樣描繪焦慮，他說，焦慮又小又黑，它對你非常真實，然而通常都不會為他人所看見。看看他畫的畫：焦慮好像總會在你耳邊輕語。阿倫的“焦慮”都攜帶著一個鐘表，因為它總是被從來不會發生的事情所束縛：
http://40.media.tumblr.com/c218bddd0ae375e1cf03c7d37356aa45/tumblr_mte9rqfxkk1rimji1o2_1280.jpg
你可能無法去做藝術家阿倫所做的事情，但是保羅在這裏說：“識別所有令你焦慮的因素，仔細看，並且列舉它們的名字，然後交托給神。通過禱告交托給神。那件事不會超過神。告訴祂你要信靠祂，不懼怕。”這樣，平安就會開始在你的內心生長了。
耶穌在客西瑪尼園就是這樣做的。祂對天父說：“父啊，我必須要受死來背負世人的罪嗎？如果可以，求你讓這杯離開我。但是，我把這交托在你的手中，我信靠你，天父。讓你的旨意成就，而不是我的。”要學習這樣的禱告，平安就會開始在你的內心生長了。
建議之二：思考 ---- “凡是真實的，可敬的，公義的……這些事都要去行。賜平安的神，就必與你們同在。”（4:8a,9b）
貫穿新約，在神更新的工作中，我們的角色永遠開始於我們的心意。羅馬書12：2說：“要心意更新而變化”。在第8節，我想強調的是前三個字，保羅在其中告訴我們，我們的心意應當如何變化，比如我們的心意應當是1）真實的2）可敬的3）公義的。在新約中，這些詞語幾乎總是和那些引導我們人生的、我們所信的真理聯系起來。聖經教導我們，“當焦慮臨到，甚至在它臨到之前，花點時間停下來，仔細深刻地思考，你所相信的是什麽？”
因此，讓我們問這些問題：你相信神是何樣的神？祂是大能的嗎？祂是否比令你焦慮的那些事情更有能力？祂是良善的嗎？當你心碎的時候祂在乎嗎？你知道神宣告說祂愛你嗎？你是否相信，當焦慮來臨的時候，祂與你同在？想一想這些問題。
你相信世界是什麽樣子的？你是否相信，如果你能將所有事都做得完美，是否每件事就都能遂你所願？還是你覺得整個世界都亂套了，神正在作工，為要讓所有的事情最終都成為美好 ---- 為你，也為了每個人！你會信靠祂嗎？
許多心理療法都會告訴你，當你焦慮的時候，你應當將那些事情從頭腦中清除出去。但是當你這樣做的時候就會發現，一旦你回到家裏或者學校中，那些問題仍然存在。聖經讓我們使用頭腦，思考更多。我清楚地知道，當慌恐來臨的時候，你的頭腦極速運轉，很難停下來思考。所以，要好好思考神在祂的話語中所給你的，關於神、關於你自己和世界的啟示。當你知道，那創造宇宙的神與你同在，並且愛你，你就可以將一切交托給祂，祂會看顧你的心思和意念。
建議之三：監督---- “你們在我身上所學習的，所領受的，所聽見的，所看見的，這些事你們都要去行。賜平安的神，就比與你們同在。（4：9）”
耶穌在上十字架之前，在約翰福音14章中告訴祂的門徒，為要讓我們能經歷到平安，祂要為我們受死，將祂的靈賜給我們，也將我們賜給彼此。我不完全了解焦慮和平安
，但是我知道這一點：我們需要神的靈和神的子民，為要在經歷神的平安之中成長。在使徒行傳第16章中所寫的，當保羅被鞭打、又被誣陷入獄的時候，腓利比教會的人們都看到了，並且他們知道，他在那種時候還滿有平安，在不公和痛苦的夜間，他還在唱歌。保羅在這裏又來到他們中間，與他們同行，教導他們。
我們之間也以同樣的方式彼此需要。一起崇拜是如此美好，但是我們也需要小組，讓我們在其中可以教導，團聚，彼此鼓勵，互相支持。當你和那些在信心裏行走了較長時間的長者同行、學習的時候，也就是你在學習如何生活的過程。
傑夫·瑪提斯牧師將要給我們分享他是如何與焦慮抗爭的。我親眼看到平安的果子在他的心中成長，也希望大家能聽到神是如何在傑夫的生命中作工的……
如果你或者你所關心的人受到焦慮的困擾，你將會有機會與教會的牧者們一起禱告，為你與孩子的關系、為你的工作等等事情禱告。我們的禱告有可能會是簡短的，但是，教會中的一個人受傷，牧者們都應一起禱告。肯·麥德瑪弟兄會根據今天的信息創作一首歌，之後我會邀請你們走上前來，大家一起禱告。
祂的荣耀，
格雷格Waybright博士
主任牧師
Greg Waybright • Copyright 2015, Lake Avenue Church
Small Group Resources
Synced Small-Group Questions - Peace - Week 3
Fruit of the Spirit – Peace
Video Questions
- How did peace show up in the story from the video?
- How was this peace the result of being connected to the Spirit?
Peace is that state of being we each long for desperately that is best exemplified by the wholeness and well-being seen in Jesus’ earthly life.
Scripture
Read John 20.21-22:
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
- Why would Jesus choose to encourage his followers to have peace at this stage of the story in the Gospel of John?
- What does peace have to do with being sent by Jesus into the world to be his witnesses?
General Questions
- In your experience of God, what brings you the most peace?
- Can you think of times when God blessed you with a sense of wholeness during a time of chaos? Share that with the group.
- How can we, within Christian community, steal God’s peace from one another?
- How can we do a better job of fostering space for one another to experience God’s peace?
- How can experiencing God’s peace help propel you to living as his witness in your life, where you work, live, and play?
- How can we help share God’s peace in practical ways with folks who do not yet know Jesus?
Challenge
Is there a relationship in your life that could use a heaping dose of the wholeness only God can bring? Pray God would bring his peace in that relationship…then make contact with that person and actively pursue peace with them!
Prayer
Father, our lives are full of chaos, loose ends, and strife. We need to be anchored to you. We need your stability, your grace, your shalom. We admit we’ve tried to manufacture peace on our own, as individuals and as communities. And we admit that in so doing we’ve failed ourselves and one another. Teach us how to live lives of peace and be peacemakers in our lives. Empower us through your Spirit as we look toward the example of Jesus. It’s in Jesus’ name that we pray, Amen.