Do you remember praying as
a child? Do you remember the words that
you prayed? Let’s try it together: “Now I
lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord my soul to keep, if I should die before I
wake I pray the Lord my soul to take.”
But what if when you laid down to sleep you knew that would be the last
time you ever laid down to sleep?
a child? Do you remember the words that
you prayed? Let’s try it together: “Now I
lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord my soul to keep, if I should die before I
wake I pray the Lord my soul to take.”
But what if when you laid down to sleep you knew that would be the last
time you ever laid down to sleep?
What if when you closed
your eyes you knew it would be the last time you would ever close your eyes to
sleep. What if you knew when you went to
bed tonight that tomorrow night you would be history, that you would never
again hold the ones you loved, that you would never again be held by the ones
who loved you. That you would never see
another sunset, never hear another bird sing, never live another day. How would you sleep?
your eyes you knew it would be the last time you would ever close your eyes to
sleep. What if you knew when you went to
bed tonight that tomorrow night you would be history, that you would never
again hold the ones you loved, that you would never again be held by the ones
who loved you. That you would never see
another sunset, never hear another bird sing, never live another day. How would you sleep?
I’ve read that they often put
a suicide watch on prisoners in the United States who have been sentenced to
death. Probably don’t want the prisoner
to cheat the state out of all their fun.
I mean do they really use an alcohol swab to sterilize the site for the
lethal injection?
a suicide watch on prisoners in the United States who have been sentenced to
death. Probably don’t want the prisoner
to cheat the state out of all their fun.
I mean do they really use an alcohol swab to sterilize the site for the
lethal injection?
If you knew that tomorrow
there was a pretty good chance that you would die, do you think you’d be able
to sleep?
there was a pretty good chance that you would die, do you think you’d be able
to sleep?
I’m not sure if I would be
able to or if my mind would be racing with regrets and what if’s. Wondering if I had said good byes and
thank-yous to all the right people.
Asking myself if I had left a mark and whether or not I’d be
remembered.
able to or if my mind would be racing with regrets and what if’s. Wondering if I had said good byes and
thank-yous to all the right people.
Asking myself if I had left a mark and whether or not I’d be
remembered.
That was exactly the
situation that Peter was in. King Herod
had ordered execution of James who was the brother of John, maybe you remember
him as one of the sons of Thunder, or Zebedee’s boy, or one of the original
group that Jesus called to be his disciples.
It really doesn’t matter but what does matter is that he was executed by
King Herod. One line finishes the story
of James, you’ll find it in Acts
12:2 He
(Herod) had the apostle James (John’s brother) killed with a sword. And that was all that was
written. Herod had James killed.
situation that Peter was in. King Herod
had ordered execution of James who was the brother of John, maybe you remember
him as one of the sons of Thunder, or Zebedee’s boy, or one of the original
group that Jesus called to be his disciples.
It really doesn’t matter but what does matter is that he was executed by
King Herod. One line finishes the story
of James, you’ll find it in Acts
12:2 He
(Herod) had the apostle James (John’s brother) killed with a sword. And that was all that was
written. Herod had James killed.
Now perhaps you’re thinking
“I remember King Herod he was the king who ordered all the baby boys in
Bethlehem killed when Jesus was born.”
Well you’re partially right, that was King Herod but it wasn’t this King
Herod. Then you’re thinking that it must
have been the King Herod that had John the Baptist killed. Well again you are partially right, it was
King Herod but not this King Herod. This
is in fact King Herod Agrippa and after he saw how much his killing James had pleased
the Jewish leaders he thought, “Great,
all I have to do to become popular is kill Christians.”
“I remember King Herod he was the king who ordered all the baby boys in
Bethlehem killed when Jesus was born.”
Well you’re partially right, that was King Herod but it wasn’t this King
Herod. Then you’re thinking that it must
have been the King Herod that had John the Baptist killed. Well again you are partially right, it was
King Herod but not this King Herod. This
is in fact King Herod Agrippa and after he saw how much his killing James had pleased
the Jewish leaders he thought, “Great,
all I have to do to become popular is kill Christians.”
Justin Trudeau and Stephen
McNeil, they have to reduce taxes to be popular, but Herod he just had to kill
preachers. And so he figured “If killing James made me popular think
how popular I would be if I killed Peter”, and so he had Peter arrested and
thrown into Jail.
McNeil, they have to reduce taxes to be popular, but Herod he just had to kill
preachers. And so he figured “If killing James made me popular think
how popular I would be if I killed Peter”, and so he had Peter arrested and
thrown into Jail.
Now it was the Jewish
celebration of Passover, probably the 12th Passover since Jesus died on the
cross and was raised from the dead, and Herod couldn’t very well execute Peter
during the holidays so he decides that as soon as Passover is done, then he
will separate Peter’s head from the rest of his body.
celebration of Passover, probably the 12th Passover since Jesus died on the
cross and was raised from the dead, and Herod couldn’t very well execute Peter
during the holidays so he decides that as soon as Passover is done, then he
will separate Peter’s head from the rest of his body.
And so here Peter is, in
prison, waiting to stand trial with execution being a very, very real
possibility. As a matter of fact, it was
virtually the only probable outcome of the trial.
prison, waiting to stand trial with execution being a very, very real
possibility. As a matter of fact, it was
virtually the only probable outcome of the trial.
It’s the night before the
trial, the church has called a prayer meeting and they are up praying. I don’t know if they were praying for Peter’s
release or if they were praying for Peter to have the courage and strength to
face his imminent demise. We don’t know,
but we do know that they were praying.
And Peter, you’d think that Peter would either be wide awake worrying or
wide awake praying.
trial, the church has called a prayer meeting and they are up praying. I don’t know if they were praying for Peter’s
release or if they were praying for Peter to have the courage and strength to
face his imminent demise. We don’t know,
but we do know that they were praying.
And Peter, you’d think that Peter would either be wide awake worrying or
wide awake praying.
But that wasn’t the case,
instead of being wide awake for anything Peter was sound asleep.
instead of being wide awake for anything Peter was sound asleep.
Chained between two Roman
soldiers this boy wasn’t just napping he was out like a light, dead to the
world so to speak.
soldiers this boy wasn’t just napping he was out like a light, dead to the
world so to speak.
And suddenly a great light
filled the prison cell and standing there was an angel, and Peter didn’t wake
up. Boy you gotta hate that, this angel
had this great entrance, poof, a great light fills the cell and there stands
this great big strapping angel shinning in all his glory and Peter doesn’t wake
up, at all. Having lost all of the
impact of a dramatic entrance the angel pokes Peter and says, “Hey, come on wake up we’re out of
here.” Or something like that.
filled the prison cell and standing there was an angel, and Peter didn’t wake
up. Boy you gotta hate that, this angel
had this great entrance, poof, a great light fills the cell and there stands
this great big strapping angel shinning in all his glory and Peter doesn’t wake
up, at all. Having lost all of the
impact of a dramatic entrance the angel pokes Peter and says, “Hey, come on wake up we’re out of
here.” Or something like that.
The thing that amazes me
isn’t the great rescue with the angel, that’s a God thing, God can do those
things. What amazes me is that Peter is
asleep. This is the same Peter who had
hacked off the guy’s ear in the garden of Gethsemane, the same Peter who avowed
that he would never let Jesus down and then denied he knew him three times, the
same Peter who saw Jesus walking on the water and jumped out of the boat and
joined him. Everything we knew about
Peter is turned inside out when we see him sleeping between these two Roman
soldiers the night before his execution.
isn’t the great rescue with the angel, that’s a God thing, God can do those
things. What amazes me is that Peter is
asleep. This is the same Peter who had
hacked off the guy’s ear in the garden of Gethsemane, the same Peter who avowed
that he would never let Jesus down and then denied he knew him three times, the
same Peter who saw Jesus walking on the water and jumped out of the boat and
joined him. Everything we knew about
Peter is turned inside out when we see him sleeping between these two Roman
soldiers the night before his execution.
What happened? Three words “The Holy Spirit”. In Acts chapter 2 we see how the Holy Spirit
filled Peter and he was never the same again.
filled Peter and he was never the same again.
You’ve probably heard me
speak about the Fruit of the Spirit from time to time. You know it is a list of what Christ
followers are to be like and the characteristics they are supposed to exhibit
when they allow the Holy Spirit to control their lives. It’s actually a part of the mission statement
at Cornerstone.
speak about the Fruit of the Spirit from time to time. You know it is a list of what Christ
followers are to be like and the characteristics they are supposed to exhibit
when they allow the Holy Spirit to control their lives. It’s actually a part of the mission statement
at Cornerstone.
In case you’ve forgotten what all is included in the list it is
spelled out in Galatians 5:22-23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our
lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control. And
so, after Peter embraces the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit embraces Peter on
the day of Pentecost the old Peter is gone and in his place is this new
Peter. Not the Peter who was rash and
angry but a Peter whose life was characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control. This
morning I want to look at the Peace that is exhibited in Peter’s life the night
before his impending death. a
spelled out in Galatians 5:22-23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our
lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control. And
so, after Peter embraces the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit embraces Peter on
the day of Pentecost the old Peter is gone and in his place is this new
Peter. Not the Peter who was rash and
angry but a Peter whose life was characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control. This
morning I want to look at the Peace that is exhibited in Peter’s life the night
before his impending death. a
So what is peace? Good question, it can be defined several
different ways. Thomas Jefferson has been quoted as defining peace this
way: “Peace is that
brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading.”
different ways. Thomas Jefferson has been quoted as defining peace this
way: “Peace is that
brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading.”
And if you were to ask that
question to a room full of people most would speak of an absence of war,
something that we haven’t seen in the world for a long time. If you asked me to define peace, I’d probably
say “a small, round, green vegetable”, and then I’d have to confess that I
hadn’t really been paying attention to the question, or at least that was what
it was like in school.
question to a room full of people most would speak of an absence of war,
something that we haven’t seen in the world for a long time. If you asked me to define peace, I’d probably
say “a small, round, green vegetable”, and then I’d have to confess that I
hadn’t really been paying attention to the question, or at least that was what
it was like in school.
But for most people peace
is an external, it is something that happens out there.
is an external, it is something that happens out there.
The peace that shows up as
a Fruit of the Spirit is a different concept.
Paul not talking about an absence of war or even an absence of
interpersonal conflict in our lives. The
peace that Paul is speaking of is a tranquility of heart which derives from the
all-pervading knowledge that we are in the hands of God.
a Fruit of the Spirit is a different concept.
Paul not talking about an absence of war or even an absence of
interpersonal conflict in our lives. The
peace that Paul is speaking of is a tranquility of heart which derives from the
all-pervading knowledge that we are in the hands of God.
It is the peace that is written
about in Philippians 4:7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which
exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds
as you live in Christ Jesus. In
the NKJV it says it this way Philippians 4:7 NKJV and the peace
of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.
about in Philippians 4:7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which
exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds
as you live in Christ Jesus. In
the NKJV it says it this way Philippians 4:7 NKJV and the peace
of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.
To which Helen
Keller commented “I do not want the peace
which passes understanding, I want the understanding which brings peace.”
Keller commented “I do not want the peace
which passes understanding, I want the understanding which brings peace.”
And it would appear that
Peter had discovered the understanding which brought peace in his life. So what was it that he understood?
Peter had discovered the understanding which brought peace in his life. So what was it that he understood?
Peter Understood That God
Is There Last month while driving down Larry
Utek I noticed the sign at Full Gospel and it said “Know God, Know Peace. No God, No Peace.” It’s the truth, without an acknowledgement
that there is a God you will not have peace.
That’s why it’s called the peace of God or God’s peace in the
Bible. If there were no other
certainties in Peter’s life, there was the certainty that God was real.
Is There Last month while driving down Larry
Utek I noticed the sign at Full Gospel and it said “Know God, Know Peace. No God, No Peace.” It’s the truth, without an acknowledgement
that there is a God you will not have peace.
That’s why it’s called the peace of God or God’s peace in the
Bible. If there were no other
certainties in Peter’s life, there was the certainty that God was real.
If we are to find peace in
our life the first step is acknowledging that there is a God. The Bible says in Psalm 14:1 Only fools say in their
hearts, “There is no God.”
our life the first step is acknowledging that there is a God. The Bible says in Psalm 14:1 Only fools say in their
hearts, “There is no God.”
Abraham
Lincoln echoed that when he said “I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon
the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into
the heaven and say there is no God.”
Lincoln echoed that when he said “I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon
the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into
the heaven and say there is no God.”
And so Peter knew that
there was a God, he knew that whatever happened tomorrow that a higher power
was in control, even if he was executed he knew that was not the end. He would not share the epitaph of the Atheist
which said “Here lies the Atheist,
all dressed up and no place to go.”
there was a God, he knew that whatever happened tomorrow that a higher power
was in control, even if he was executed he knew that was not the end. He would not share the epitaph of the Atheist
which said “Here lies the Atheist,
all dressed up and no place to go.”
Peter Understood That God Is
Aware Not
only did Peter know that God existed, but God knew that Peter Existed. Or as the Bible says in Galatians 4:9 So now that you
know God (or should I say, now that God knows you).
Aware Not
only did Peter know that God existed, but God knew that Peter Existed. Or as the Bible says in Galatians 4:9 So now that you
know God (or should I say, now that God knows you).
And so we need to take our
belief to the next level, not only believing in God but also believing that God
knows what’s going on.
belief to the next level, not only believing in God but also believing that God
knows what’s going on.
I have met people who
assure me that they believe in God, but what they can’t believe is that God is
interested in what happens on earth. At
the very most he is just a game master who put everything in place and now sits
back and watches to see how it will work itself out.
assure me that they believe in God, but what they can’t believe is that God is
interested in what happens on earth. At
the very most he is just a game master who put everything in place and now sits
back and watches to see how it will work itself out.
However, Jesus made an
incrediable statement concerning this remarkable attribute of God in Matthew 10:29 What is the price of two
sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground
without your Father knowing it.
incrediable statement concerning this remarkable attribute of God in Matthew 10:29 What is the price of two
sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground
without your Father knowing it.
God didn’t create this
world and then turn his back on it, he is aware what is going on, we aren’t
alone. He rejoices when he sees good and
love and beauty. It breaks his heart when he sees war, and hatred and what we’ve
done to this world. And he knows you,
and everything about you, David wrote in Psalm 139:1 O LORD, you have
examined my heart and know everything about me.
world and then turn his back on it, he is aware what is going on, we aren’t
alone. He rejoices when he sees good and
love and beauty. It breaks his heart when he sees war, and hatred and what we’ve
done to this world. And he knows you,
and everything about you, David wrote in Psalm 139:1 O LORD, you have
examined my heart and know everything about me.
And that is a struggle sometimes,
is God in control? And if so how come
things aren’t perfect? I truly believe
that God has given us the resources and abilities for this world to be a much
better place than it is.
is God in control? And if so how come
things aren’t perfect? I truly believe
that God has given us the resources and abilities for this world to be a much
better place than it is.
3000 years ago the people of
Israel were told Deuteronomy 30:11-15 “This command I am giving you
today is not too difficult for you to understand, and it is not beyond your
reach. It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, ‘Who will
go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?’ It is not
kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to
bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?’ No, the message is very close
at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.
“Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death,
between prosperity and disaster.” The scripture goes on to tell
them the choice they were being offered was to obey God and his commands or to
reject God and his commands. The choice
is still there today, and God is cheering us on to make the right choice.
Israel were told Deuteronomy 30:11-15 “This command I am giving you
today is not too difficult for you to understand, and it is not beyond your
reach. It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, ‘Who will
go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?’ It is not
kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to
bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?’ No, the message is very close
at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.
“Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death,
between prosperity and disaster.” The scripture goes on to tell
them the choice they were being offered was to obey God and his commands or to
reject God and his commands. The choice
is still there today, and God is cheering us on to make the right choice.
Peter Understood That God Cares Of the three this is probably the most important thing that Peter
knew. It’s not enough that there is a
God out there, if he’s not aware of what’s going on in my life. And it’s not enough that there’s a God out
there who is aware of what’s happening in my life if he doesn’t care about what
is happening in my life. Earlier we
read Matthew
10:29
Jesus said “What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a
single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.”
knew. It’s not enough that there is a
God out there, if he’s not aware of what’s going on in my life. And it’s not enough that there’s a God out
there who is aware of what’s happening in my life if he doesn’t care about what
is happening in my life. Earlier we
read Matthew
10:29
Jesus said “What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a
single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.”
But Jesus didn’t end there,
he went on to say Matthew 10:29-31 Jesus said “What is the price of two
sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground
without your Father knowing it. And the
very hairs on your head are all numbered.
So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of
sparrows.
he went on to say Matthew 10:29-31 Jesus said “What is the price of two
sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground
without your Father knowing it. And the
very hairs on your head are all numbered.
So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of
sparrows.
When Peter closed his eyes
that night in the prison cell between the two guards he knew that if nobody
else in the universe cared about what happened to Peter that God did. That ultimately he mattered to God and that
ultimately God was in control. Maybe it
was this experience that caused Peter to write later on in the Letter of 1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries
and cares to God, for he cares about you.
that night in the prison cell between the two guards he knew that if nobody
else in the universe cared about what happened to Peter that God did. That ultimately he mattered to God and that
ultimately God was in control. Maybe it
was this experience that caused Peter to write later on in the Letter of 1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries
and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Peter knew that there was
absolutely nothing he could do to change his situation, so why worry about? Larry Eisenberg summed it up when he said “For peace of mind, we
need to resign as general manager of the universe.”
absolutely nothing he could do to change his situation, so why worry about? Larry Eisenberg summed it up when he said “For peace of mind, we
need to resign as general manager of the universe.”
If we are going to have
peace in our life it will only be when we realize that God not only knows
what’s best for us, but that he wants what’s best for us. And not only do we need to realize that we
need to believe it and act upon it.
peace in our life it will only be when we realize that God not only knows
what’s best for us, but that he wants what’s best for us. And not only do we need to realize that we
need to believe it and act upon it.
How many of our troubles
could we have avoided if we had believed that God had our best at heart all
along? Too often we second-guess
God. We decide that even though God is
God, and that he is the creator and ruler of the universe that he’s not nearly
as smart as we are. That we know what is
best for us, and if that doesn’t agree with what God says then that’s because
God doesn’t really want the best for us, all he wants is to ruin our fun.
could we have avoided if we had believed that God had our best at heart all
along? Too often we second-guess
God. We decide that even though God is
God, and that he is the creator and ruler of the universe that he’s not nearly
as smart as we are. That we know what is
best for us, and if that doesn’t agree with what God says then that’s because
God doesn’t really want the best for us, all he wants is to ruin our fun.
And so we do the things we
want to do, and when it flies all to pieces and when we have to pay the fiddler
so to speak, we wonder what went wrong.
And sometimes in retrospect we say “Wow, if only I had done what God wanted
me to do.”
want to do, and when it flies all to pieces and when we have to pay the fiddler
so to speak, we wonder what went wrong.
And sometimes in retrospect we say “Wow, if only I had done what God wanted
me to do.”
It’s easy to believe that God
will do what is good, it’s more difficult to believe that whatever God does is
good. A lady whose son had leukemia was
talking to another lady and the second woman said “Maybe God
will be good and heal your son.” To
which the first lady responded “God will be good whether he heals my son or
not.”
will do what is good, it’s more difficult to believe that whatever God does is
good. A lady whose son had leukemia was
talking to another lady and the second woman said “Maybe God
will be good and heal your son.” To
which the first lady responded “God will be good whether he heals my son or
not.”
God does care, and God sees a
much bigger picture then we do. God
cared enough about Peter that he sent an Angel to deliver him, did that mean
that he cared less about James when he allowed him to be executed. No, I can’t explain it, and I don’t
understand it, but even though James was killed and that caused his family pain
and grief, God is still good. And Peter
understood that. The book of Romans
hadn’t been written at this point in history but the premise of Romans 8:28 was still
real Romans 8:28 And we know that
God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and
are called according to his purpose for them.
much bigger picture then we do. God
cared enough about Peter that he sent an Angel to deliver him, did that mean
that he cared less about James when he allowed him to be executed. No, I can’t explain it, and I don’t
understand it, but even though James was killed and that caused his family pain
and grief, God is still good. And Peter
understood that. The book of Romans
hadn’t been written at this point in history but the premise of Romans 8:28 was still
real Romans 8:28 And we know that
God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and
are called according to his purpose for them.
I wonder if when James’
mother heard the news about her son if she remembered the time she had asked
Jesus if James would be permitted to sit at his right hand? And if so, I wonder if she could believe that
is where he was? It was Paul who would
later write in Romans
14:8 If
we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So
whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
mother heard the news about her son if she remembered the time she had asked
Jesus if James would be permitted to sit at his right hand? And if so, I wonder if she could believe that
is where he was? It was Paul who would
later write in Romans
14:8 If
we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So
whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
It is reported that John Wesley once said “Until my
work on this earth is done, I am immortal. But when my work for Christ is done
… I go to be with Jesus!” We don’t know why James died that week, but we do know that Peter’s
work wasn’t done. That he would go on to
become the Father of the Western Church.
work on this earth is done, I am immortal. But when my work for Christ is done
… I go to be with Jesus!” We don’t know why James died that week, but we do know that Peter’s
work wasn’t done. That he would go on to
become the Father of the Western Church.
Peter knew that Peter could
do nothing, and God could do everything, so why worry?
do nothing, and God could do everything, so why worry?
Even though Paul hadn’t
written it yet Peter seemed to have embraced the philosophy of Philippians 4:6-7 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray
about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has
done. Then you will experience God’s
peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your
hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
written it yet Peter seemed to have embraced the philosophy of Philippians 4:6-7 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray
about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has
done. Then you will experience God’s
peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your
hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
So, maybe Peter had prayed,
told God what he needed, thanked him for all he had done, and was experiencing
the peace that is more wonderful than the human mind can understand. Or maybe Peter had discovered the truth of
what Clive James would write 2000 years later “Stop worrying — nobody
gets out of this world alive.”
told God what he needed, thanked him for all he had done, and was experiencing
the peace that is more wonderful than the human mind can understand. Or maybe Peter had discovered the truth of
what Clive James would write 2000 years later “Stop worrying — nobody
gets out of this world alive.”
A story is told by Bishop William Quayle, he said that one night all the
worries and concerns of his parish seemed to catch up with him, and as he paced
back and forth that God spoke to him and said “Quayle, you go to bed;
I’ll stay up the rest of the night.” Well two thousand years ago God told
Peter, “Peter, you go to bed; I’ll stay up the
rest of the night.”
worries and concerns of his parish seemed to catch up with him, and as he paced
back and forth that God spoke to him and said “Quayle, you go to bed;
I’ll stay up the rest of the night.” Well two thousand years ago God told
Peter, “Peter, you go to bed; I’ll stay up the
rest of the night.”
And that’s what he’s
telling you.
telling you.
Perhaps that night Peter simply remembered and claimed the
promise that Jesus had made to him 12 years before, when he said: John
14:27 “I am leaving you with a
gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot
give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
promise that Jesus had made to him 12 years before, when he said: John
14:27 “I am leaving you with a
gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot
give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
And that promise and that gif wasn’t just for Peter, it was
for you. Jesus didn’t say he might leave
us with the gift of peace of mind and heart.
He said he was leaving it with us.
Can you believe that today?
for you. Jesus didn’t say he might leave
us with the gift of peace of mind and heart.
He said he was leaving it with us.
Can you believe that today?