1 00:00:00,260 --> 00:00:01,320 Let's pray. 2 00:00:02,300 --> 00:00:06,880 Father, we're so thankful for the confidence that 3 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:09,300 we can have knowing that the God of 4 00:00:09,300 --> 00:00:11,980 peace is with us. 5 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:15,480 In a world that is torn apart by 6 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:20,820 wars and struggles, we thank you, Lord, that 7 00:00:20,820 --> 00:00:26,120 we can experience that peace that passes human 8 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:27,140 understanding. 9 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:32,440 Lord, we pray that this day, those whose 10 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:36,680 hearts are troubled, those who find their lives 11 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:41,600 in turmoil, we pray, Father, that before this 12 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:47,400 day is over, they might experience, Lord, your 13 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:53,320 perfect peace in their lives, dispelling, Lord, the 14 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:58,360 fears, the anxieties, the uncertainties. 15 00:00:59,180 --> 00:01:02,280 May they just have, Lord, that perfect peace. 16 00:01:03,319 --> 00:01:06,340 In Jesus' name we pray, amen. 17 00:01:07,100 --> 00:01:08,300 You may be seated. 18 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,300 Tonight, Skip is going to continue to lead 19 00:01:17,300 --> 00:01:20,160 us in our journey through the Bible. 20 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,520 And so, we're looking forward to tonight's study, 21 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:29,380 as Skip will be taking us in Isaiah 22 00:01:29,380 --> 00:01:31,820 chapters 26 through 28. 23 00:01:32,900 --> 00:01:35,260 I know that it's the fourth of July, 24 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:36,940 and I know that there are going to 25 00:01:36,940 --> 00:01:39,680 be fireworks, but I'm very curious as to 26 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:40,700 priorities. 27 00:01:43,830 --> 00:01:47,710 Which is most important in your life? 28 00:01:48,590 --> 00:01:50,850 The study of the eternal word of God 29 00:01:50,850 --> 00:01:54,950 or watching some brilliant flash that will be 30 00:01:54,950 --> 00:01:55,990 over in a moment? 31 00:01:57,350 --> 00:02:03,030 Hearing the loud explosions and doing the oohs 32 00:02:03,030 --> 00:02:07,490 and aahs, I'll be watching to see tonight 33 00:02:07,490 --> 00:02:15,820 just which people have the right priority in 34 00:02:15,820 --> 00:02:16,420 their life. 35 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:20,340 This morning, we'd like to draw your attention 36 00:02:20,340 --> 00:02:26,460 to the 26th chapter, verses 3 and 4, 37 00:02:27,740 --> 00:02:31,860 where Isaiah tells us, thou will keep him 38 00:02:31,860 --> 00:02:36,620 in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on 39 00:02:36,620 --> 00:02:40,160 thee, because he trusteth in thee. 40 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:47,780 Trust ye in Jehovah forever, for in Jehovah, 41 00:02:48,460 --> 00:02:53,160 Jehovah is everlasting strength. 42 00:02:54,100 --> 00:02:56,720 In a world that is filled with wars, 43 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:05,660 filled with striving, filled with bitter competition, the 44 00:03:05,660 --> 00:03:09,620 heart of the normal man longs for peace. 45 00:03:10,740 --> 00:03:15,000 David, in Psalm 120, said, I am for 46 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:15,800 peace. 47 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:18,940 And I'm certain that most of us would 48 00:03:18,940 --> 00:03:22,800 echo those words of David, I am for 49 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:23,760 peace. 50 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:26,460 I want peace. 51 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:32,640 One of the main goals of the hippies 52 00:03:32,640 --> 00:03:34,680 was peace. 53 00:03:35,620 --> 00:03:40,360 On their old vans with the psychedelic paintings, 54 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:44,320 they always had on the van that painted 55 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:45,700 peace sign. 56 00:03:46,580 --> 00:03:50,400 They would often flash the peace sign to 57 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:54,340 one another, for they were searching for peace. 58 00:03:55,140 --> 00:03:57,100 I can remember being in a van parked 59 00:03:57,100 --> 00:04:00,300 behind one of these vans at a signal. 60 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:06,500 And when the light turned green, the van 61 00:04:06,500 --> 00:04:08,100 sputtered and died. 62 00:04:08,820 --> 00:04:11,500 And I sat there behind this van as 63 00:04:11,500 --> 00:04:14,420 the light continued green, but I knew it 64 00:04:14,420 --> 00:04:15,519 would soon be red. 65 00:04:17,060 --> 00:04:23,600 And I started honking my horn and saying, 66 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:26,400 get that dirty piece of junk off of 67 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:27,440 the road, you know. 68 00:04:28,700 --> 00:04:31,700 And a hand came out the window with 69 00:04:31,700 --> 00:04:33,860 a peace sign, peace brother, you know. 70 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:37,120 And I was embarrassed. 71 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:38,740 I thought, here I am a minister. 72 00:04:42,660 --> 00:04:45,960 And here's this hippie kid telling me peace, 73 00:04:46,140 --> 00:04:46,380 brother. 74 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:51,140 When in reality, I should be saying peace 75 00:04:51,140 --> 00:04:52,120 brother to him. 76 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:57,320 But our world is such that we long 77 00:04:57,320 --> 00:04:58,600 for peace. 78 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:02,440 The hippie kids were looking for that peace 79 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:07,020 and they thought that their quest for peace 80 00:05:07,020 --> 00:05:10,620 could only be found by dropping out of 81 00:05:10,620 --> 00:05:13,740 this dog-eat-dog society. 82 00:05:14,780 --> 00:05:19,660 So they dropped out of a competitive world. 83 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:23,280 They started living in communal houses. 84 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:29,240 They disdained the material things, the fancy cars 85 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:29,660 and all. 86 00:05:29,740 --> 00:05:33,260 And they got these old Volkswagen buses and 87 00:05:33,260 --> 00:05:38,340 they just traveled around the country searching for 88 00:05:38,340 --> 00:05:41,060 peace and searching for love. 89 00:05:42,380 --> 00:05:46,120 They thought that peace was discovered by dropping 90 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:52,140 acid and going on these kinds of psychedelic 91 00:05:52,140 --> 00:05:52,620 trips. 92 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:58,700 And they really felt that they were discovering 93 00:05:58,700 --> 00:06:01,700 the secret of peace. 94 00:06:02,540 --> 00:06:07,220 But it wasn't long before they realized that 95 00:06:07,220 --> 00:06:14,800 these psychedelic trips were a disillusionment, that their 96 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:18,660 communal houses were not all love and peace. 97 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:23,080 There was striving, there was fighting, there was 98 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:26,440 the quarreling over whose drugs they were. 99 00:06:26,740 --> 00:06:30,800 And so the hippie movement passed from the 100 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:31,240 scene. 101 00:06:32,500 --> 00:06:35,360 But in reality, in their search for peace 102 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:39,120 and love, they were ripe for the gospel 103 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:43,680 of Jesus Christ, which is a gospel that 104 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:47,220 promises peace and love. 105 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:50,920 Here in our text in Isaiah 26 3, 106 00:06:51,980 --> 00:06:54,720 Isaiah said that thou will keep him in 107 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:59,980 perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee. 108 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:02,480 Who is the thou? 109 00:07:04,740 --> 00:07:08,980 In verse 4, Isaiah tells us, whose mind 110 00:07:08,980 --> 00:07:13,500 is stayed on thee for he trusteth in 111 00:07:13,500 --> 00:07:14,580 the Lord. 112 00:07:17,180 --> 00:07:19,080 The Lord is the one that will keep 113 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:22,320 you in perfect peace if you will keep 114 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:25,600 your mind stayed upon him. 115 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:29,780 He is, according to Paul, Romans chapter 15, 116 00:07:30,140 --> 00:07:32,540 the God of peace. 117 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:36,680 When Jesus was giving his final instructions to 118 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:40,580 his disciples, the night that he was betrayed, 119 00:07:41,460 --> 00:07:44,280 as they were on their way from the 120 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:48,500 upper room to the garden of Gethsemane, he 121 00:07:48,500 --> 00:07:52,860 said to them, Peace, I leave with you. 122 00:07:53,740 --> 00:07:56,640 My peace, I give unto you. 123 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:00,240 Not as the world gives, give I unto 124 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:00,620 you. 125 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:05,500 Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let 126 00:08:05,500 --> 00:08:06,740 them be afraid. 127 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:11,120 My peace, I give to you. 128 00:08:11,780 --> 00:08:12,800 Don't be troubled. 129 00:08:13,780 --> 00:08:14,860 Don't be afraid. 130 00:08:15,660 --> 00:08:19,240 As we read in Philippians chapter 4, Paul 131 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:24,620 wrote to them, Be anxious for nothing, but 132 00:08:24,620 --> 00:08:29,180 in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, 133 00:08:29,380 --> 00:08:32,539 let your requests be made known unto God. 134 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:36,880 And the peace of God that passes human 135 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:42,200 understanding will keep your heart and your mind. 136 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:49,040 That glorious peace of God, which passes human 137 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:49,840 understanding. 138 00:08:50,580 --> 00:08:53,980 You can be going through the most difficult 139 00:08:53,980 --> 00:09:01,300 experience, the most stressful experience and have such 140 00:09:01,300 --> 00:09:02,620 wonderful peace. 141 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:06,660 It will surprise you, surprise you that you 142 00:09:06,660 --> 00:09:09,440 have such peace in the midst of these 143 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:12,560 tense circumstances. 144 00:09:13,680 --> 00:09:15,600 You know, I think that the life of 145 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:18,860 Jesus was marked by peace. 146 00:09:19,660 --> 00:09:23,560 So often where there would be this crowd 147 00:09:23,560 --> 00:09:27,320 of people that are pushing, shoving and yelling 148 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:29,760 and all, the one with the peace would 149 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:33,000 be Jesus there in the midst of the 150 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:33,420 crowd. 151 00:09:34,660 --> 00:09:38,680 I think of that song, the lyrics of 152 00:09:38,680 --> 00:09:41,120 the song, What a Friend We Have in 153 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:46,160 Jesus, those lyrics that say, Oh, what peace 154 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:48,720 we often forfeit. 155 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:52,680 Oh, what needless pain we bear. 156 00:09:53,700 --> 00:09:56,760 All because we do not carry everything to 157 00:09:56,760 --> 00:09:57,540 God in prayer. 158 00:09:58,700 --> 00:10:01,120 You see, Paul said, Don't be filled with 159 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:01,580 cares. 160 00:10:02,300 --> 00:10:04,900 Be careful for nothing or filled with care 161 00:10:04,900 --> 00:10:10,060 over nothing, but with prayer and supplication with 162 00:10:10,060 --> 00:10:10,740 thanksgiving. 163 00:10:11,780 --> 00:10:13,880 What is Paul telling us? 164 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:15,740 He's telling us that we should take these 165 00:10:15,740 --> 00:10:20,320 things that bring care to our hearts and 166 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:23,280 make them the topic for our prayers. 167 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:26,120 The things that trouble me, the things that 168 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:29,220 concern me, the things that worry me, those 169 00:10:29,220 --> 00:10:30,700 are the things that I need to be 170 00:10:30,700 --> 00:10:31,500 praying about. 171 00:10:32,540 --> 00:10:35,320 And if I will take my cares and 172 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:39,840 make them my prayers, then the peace of 173 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:44,500 God which passes all human understanding will keep 174 00:10:44,500 --> 00:10:47,940 my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus. 175 00:10:49,500 --> 00:10:53,500 Our text tells us that he will keep 176 00:10:53,500 --> 00:10:56,800 us in perfect peace. 177 00:10:57,420 --> 00:11:01,580 It's not just a fleeting moment of peace. 178 00:11:02,020 --> 00:11:05,620 It's not like an aspirin that will last 179 00:11:05,620 --> 00:11:07,180 for four hours. 180 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:12,720 But it is a constant, continual peace that 181 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:15,920 I can experience in Jesus Christ. 182 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:19,420 He can keep me in a state of 183 00:11:19,420 --> 00:11:21,100 perfect peace. 184 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:29,100 Mark's gospel, chapter four, tells us how Jesus 185 00:11:29,100 --> 00:11:31,720 was with his disciples and they were crossing 186 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:33,040 the Sea of Galilee. 187 00:11:34,020 --> 00:11:36,900 And a storm came up that was threatening 188 00:11:36,900 --> 00:11:38,760 the little ship. 189 00:11:38,900 --> 00:11:39,980 In fact, they were sinking. 190 00:11:40,260 --> 00:11:42,520 It was filling with water and they were 191 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:43,040 sinking. 192 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:46,880 And in the midst of this storm, where 193 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:50,460 the disciples were busy trying to bail the 194 00:11:50,460 --> 00:11:54,200 water out and going around feverishly and actually 195 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:57,540 now beginning to fear that they were going 196 00:11:57,540 --> 00:12:01,100 to sink there in the Sea of Galilee, 197 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:05,860 they found Jesus in the midst of the 198 00:12:05,860 --> 00:12:09,080 storm in the back part of the ship, 199 00:12:09,340 --> 00:12:10,800 sound asleep on a pillow. 200 00:12:13,060 --> 00:12:16,480 And they woke him up and they said, 201 00:12:16,860 --> 00:12:20,060 Master, don't you care if we perish? 202 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:25,100 And they were just filled with fear. 203 00:12:26,140 --> 00:12:33,010 And Jesus woke and he said to the 204 00:12:33,010 --> 00:12:38,110 wind and to the waves, peace, be still. 205 00:12:39,130 --> 00:12:42,650 And immediately the wind ceased blowing and there 206 00:12:42,650 --> 00:12:45,090 was a great calm so that the disciples 207 00:12:45,090 --> 00:12:46,550 marveled. 208 00:12:47,030 --> 00:12:49,250 What kind of a man is this that 209 00:12:49,250 --> 00:12:51,710 can speak to the wind and speak to 210 00:12:51,710 --> 00:12:53,070 the storm and comet? 211 00:12:53,970 --> 00:13:00,730 But then Jesus chided his disciples, chided them 212 00:13:00,730 --> 00:13:05,210 for their fear, chided them for their lack 213 00:13:05,210 --> 00:13:05,930 of faith. 214 00:13:07,670 --> 00:13:10,790 Having rebuked the storm, he now sort of 215 00:13:10,790 --> 00:13:14,550 rebukes them for a lack of faith and 216 00:13:14,550 --> 00:13:15,250 for fear. 217 00:13:16,430 --> 00:13:17,750 Why did you fear? 218 00:13:19,090 --> 00:13:22,450 And that always sort of troubled me. 219 00:13:23,150 --> 00:13:25,610 It seemed to me they had real cause 220 00:13:25,610 --> 00:13:26,270 for fear. 221 00:13:26,970 --> 00:13:28,570 The ship was sinking. 222 00:13:30,210 --> 00:13:31,510 Jesus was asleep. 223 00:13:32,350 --> 00:13:34,890 And it seems to me that there was 224 00:13:34,890 --> 00:13:35,870 real cause for fear. 225 00:13:35,930 --> 00:13:38,630 And as I read that, it sort of 226 00:13:38,630 --> 00:13:42,510 troubled me that Jesus would chide them because 227 00:13:42,510 --> 00:13:45,310 they lacked faith and they were fearful. 228 00:13:46,450 --> 00:13:49,190 But then I read the story again more 229 00:13:49,190 --> 00:13:49,650 carefully. 230 00:13:50,830 --> 00:13:53,010 And back at the beginning of the story, 231 00:13:53,150 --> 00:13:56,350 I read, and Jesus said to his disciples, 232 00:13:57,110 --> 00:14:00,850 let us go over to the other side. 233 00:14:01,590 --> 00:14:05,170 He didn't say, let's go under to the 234 00:14:05,170 --> 00:14:06,010 other side. 235 00:14:06,430 --> 00:14:09,810 And if Jesus said, let's go over, you 236 00:14:09,810 --> 00:14:11,410 can be sure that you're going to go 237 00:14:11,410 --> 00:14:11,890 over. 238 00:14:12,370 --> 00:14:16,410 If you just listen carefully, you can't go 239 00:14:16,410 --> 00:14:19,890 under while going over to the other side. 240 00:14:19,890 --> 00:14:23,650 And thus his chiding them for the fear 241 00:14:23,650 --> 00:14:26,030 that they were going to go under. 242 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:30,220 Thou will keep him. 243 00:14:31,220 --> 00:14:33,720 The him is you. 244 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:38,600 He will keep you in perfect peace. 245 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:45,220 The Hebrew Bible reads, shalom, shalom. 246 00:14:46,460 --> 00:14:48,060 A double piece. 247 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:50,180 He will keep you in peace. 248 00:14:50,340 --> 00:14:50,700 Peace. 249 00:14:50,860 --> 00:14:53,260 The word perfect is not there in the 250 00:14:53,260 --> 00:14:59,440 Hebrew scriptures, but using a double shalom is 251 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:00,580 for emphasis. 252 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:04,680 The double is a emphatic. 253 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:08,040 That is, he will keep you in great 254 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:13,160 peace, emphatic quite often, even to the present 255 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:13,540 day. 256 00:15:13,540 --> 00:15:16,900 When you're in Israel, you greet someone always 257 00:15:16,900 --> 00:15:18,560 with the word shalom. 258 00:15:19,500 --> 00:15:22,460 And quite often, as you greet someone with 259 00:15:22,460 --> 00:15:26,820 the word shalom, their response is shalom, shalom. 260 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:31,420 They will double it, which is an emphatic 261 00:15:31,420 --> 00:15:31,960 piece. 262 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:35,220 May you have perfect peace. 263 00:15:35,740 --> 00:15:38,700 Thus the word perfect piece is a good 264 00:15:38,700 --> 00:15:43,260 translation because it brings out the emphatic piece 265 00:15:43,260 --> 00:15:47,860 or the great piece that is being promised 266 00:15:47,860 --> 00:15:51,820 to those whose minds are stayed upon the 267 00:15:51,820 --> 00:15:52,220 Lord. 268 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:54,960 So let me ask you a question. 269 00:15:56,620 --> 00:16:01,760 Can you say that today you are experiencing 270 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:05,080 that perfect peace? 271 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:10,980 Can you say that your heart is at 272 00:16:10,980 --> 00:16:11,600 rest? 273 00:16:12,540 --> 00:16:16,020 Many years ago, I was invited to a 274 00:16:16,020 --> 00:16:21,780 seekers meeting made up of college professors and 275 00:16:22,580 --> 00:16:26,740 doctors and many of the prominent people of 276 00:16:26,740 --> 00:16:27,420 Orange County. 277 00:16:30,140 --> 00:16:33,140 And they had asked me to come and 278 00:16:33,140 --> 00:16:36,820 share my understanding of God with them. 279 00:16:38,060 --> 00:16:44,800 So I went to this meeting and time 280 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:47,160 came that they wanted the discussion. 281 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:51,040 So the fellow sitting on the floor in 282 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:54,460 a lotus position told me that he was 283 00:16:54,460 --> 00:16:58,520 a Buddhist at one time and his search 284 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:01,480 for peace and his search for meaning and 285 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:02,460 search for God. 286 00:17:02,660 --> 00:17:05,819 And he said, we've invited you now tell 287 00:17:05,819 --> 00:17:09,240 us about the God that you believe in. 288 00:17:10,970 --> 00:17:13,569 So I said, well, you fellows have been 289 00:17:13,569 --> 00:17:14,790 on quite a search. 290 00:17:14,930 --> 00:17:16,829 And so why don't we start at the 291 00:17:16,829 --> 00:17:21,630 beginning of the Bible in the beginning, God. 292 00:17:22,910 --> 00:17:24,990 And one of them spoke up and said, 293 00:17:25,130 --> 00:17:26,869 well, now when you say God, are you 294 00:17:26,869 --> 00:17:30,090 talking about an anthropomorphic concept of God? 295 00:17:30,210 --> 00:17:32,270 And then these guys started getting in this 296 00:17:32,270 --> 00:17:35,330 argument with each other on concepts of God. 297 00:17:35,970 --> 00:17:40,590 And after about five minutes of their bantering 298 00:17:40,590 --> 00:17:43,670 back and forth, during which time I was 299 00:17:43,670 --> 00:17:45,430 saying, Oh God, why am I here? 300 00:17:45,650 --> 00:17:45,750 Why? 301 00:17:46,530 --> 00:17:49,290 Oh, Lord, get me out of this place. 302 00:17:49,390 --> 00:17:50,870 If you do, I promise I'll never come 303 00:17:50,870 --> 00:17:51,490 back again. 304 00:17:51,870 --> 00:17:53,430 Help me out of here, Lord. 305 00:17:53,530 --> 00:17:55,570 I mean, I didn't come for this. 306 00:17:56,410 --> 00:17:57,770 And one of the ladies said, would you 307 00:17:57,770 --> 00:17:58,870 guys please shut up? 308 00:17:58,970 --> 00:18:02,230 We hear you go through these things every 309 00:18:02,230 --> 00:18:03,570 week. 310 00:18:03,670 --> 00:18:06,070 And now we've invited a guest, give him 311 00:18:06,070 --> 00:18:09,170 the courtesy to at least share with us 312 00:18:09,170 --> 00:18:10,790 what he believes. 313 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:14,700 So I started again. 314 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:21,060 But while they were in their little discourse 315 00:18:21,060 --> 00:18:26,000 with each other, I started the next time 316 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:33,080 by declaring my heart is at perfect peace. 317 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:37,100 You could have heard a pin drop. 318 00:18:38,180 --> 00:18:40,460 They all began to sit on the edge 319 00:18:40,460 --> 00:18:41,940 of their seats to listen. 320 00:18:42,260 --> 00:18:42,480 Why? 321 00:18:44,060 --> 00:18:46,800 Because that's something they could not say. 322 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:52,100 That's something they did not experience through all 323 00:18:52,100 --> 00:18:55,500 of their searching and philosophizing and all they 324 00:18:55,500 --> 00:18:58,940 had not found that perfect peace. 325 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:01,860 And it shocked them to have someone say, 326 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:05,480 my heart is at perfect peace. 327 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:07,580 And that was the key. 328 00:19:07,700 --> 00:19:10,500 They listened then to what I had to 329 00:19:10,500 --> 00:19:10,740 share. 330 00:19:10,820 --> 00:19:13,300 And in the subsequent weeks, many of them 331 00:19:13,300 --> 00:19:15,480 called me and thank God, many of them 332 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:19,680 accepted the Lord and that perfect peace that 333 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:21,640 he has promised to us. 334 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:25,200 Are you afraid that your ship is sinking 335 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:28,940 and Jesus seems to be asleep? 336 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:32,900 You feel that he's not aware of your 337 00:19:32,900 --> 00:19:33,500 problem. 338 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:37,580 You need to remember that Jesus said to 339 00:19:37,580 --> 00:19:41,440 his disciples in Luke 12, six are not 340 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:44,580 five sparrows sold for two pennies. 341 00:19:45,580 --> 00:19:48,180 And not one of them is forgotten before 342 00:19:48,180 --> 00:19:48,920 God. 343 00:19:49,740 --> 00:19:52,680 But even the very hairs of your head 344 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:53,960 are all numbered. 345 00:19:55,140 --> 00:19:59,360 Fear not, therefore, for you have more value 346 00:19:59,360 --> 00:20:01,340 than many sparrows. 347 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:09,540 Your father watching over his creation, even these 348 00:20:09,540 --> 00:20:13,700 little sparrows, hardly worth anything. 349 00:20:16,050 --> 00:20:19,730 Five of them sold for two pennies. 350 00:20:20,930 --> 00:20:26,960 You could for one penny by to bargain 351 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:29,360 price by five, two pennies. 352 00:20:30,500 --> 00:20:35,520 And yet your father is cognizant of them. 353 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:39,080 Not one of them falls to the ground, 354 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:41,620 but what your father isn't aware of it. 355 00:20:43,140 --> 00:20:45,720 Now, if your father is that aware of 356 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:47,560 just his little creatures. 357 00:20:49,060 --> 00:20:51,920 How much more is he aware of you, 358 00:20:52,140 --> 00:20:52,820 his child? 359 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:57,420 How much more is he cognizant of your 360 00:20:57,420 --> 00:21:02,160 needs and desiring to minister to you and 361 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:05,140 to help you in those hours of distress? 362 00:21:07,020 --> 00:21:09,840 So what are the conditions for receiving this 363 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:10,920 perfect peace? 364 00:21:13,100 --> 00:21:17,040 Isaiah tells us whose mind is stayed on 365 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:17,940 thee. 366 00:21:20,220 --> 00:21:24,080 I must keep my mind stayed upon the 367 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:26,360 Lord or fixed upon him. 368 00:21:26,360 --> 00:21:29,780 It means that I am looking to him. 369 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:32,700 It means that I am trusting in him. 370 00:21:33,820 --> 00:21:36,760 Perfect peace is not promised to those that 371 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:38,640 listen to the 10 o'clock news at 372 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:40,920 night and find out all of the murders 373 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:43,460 that happen today in our community. 374 00:21:44,580 --> 00:21:47,020 Perfect peace is not promised to those that 375 00:21:47,020 --> 00:21:49,940 lifts into the ravings and the rantings of 376 00:21:49,940 --> 00:21:50,980 carrier gore. 377 00:21:51,540 --> 00:21:53,480 That's a good way to raise your blood 378 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:53,940 pressure. 379 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:57,140 Perfect peace is not to those whose minds 380 00:21:57,140 --> 00:21:59,820 are stayed on the world conditions, for we 381 00:21:59,820 --> 00:22:01,880 don't live in that kind of a world. 382 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:05,920 I'm not saying that we shouldn't be cognizant 383 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:07,720 of what's going on in our world, but 384 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:11,980 don't let your mind dwell on those things. 385 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:15,000 When you start to get upset over the 386 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:19,920 world news, just realize that God is still 387 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:21,240 in control. 388 00:22:22,140 --> 00:22:24,560 He has allowed Satan certain liberties. 389 00:22:24,900 --> 00:22:27,260 He has put a limit, however, on Satan's 390 00:22:27,260 --> 00:22:30,480 work so that Satan can only work within 391 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:34,280 the constraints of which God has allowed him 392 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:35,260 to work. 393 00:22:36,020 --> 00:22:40,360 Jesus said to his disciples, let not your 394 00:22:40,360 --> 00:22:42,360 heart be troubled. 395 00:22:43,100 --> 00:22:47,860 You believe in God, believe also in me. 396 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:51,300 And as you keep your mind stayed upon 397 00:22:51,300 --> 00:22:56,260 him, the result will be a perfect peace 398 00:22:56,260 --> 00:22:58,340 in your heart. 399 00:23:00,290 --> 00:23:04,490 I think of how the scriptures so often 400 00:23:04,490 --> 00:23:07,370 tell us that Jesus said to people who 401 00:23:07,370 --> 00:23:12,270 were going through troubling experiences, be of good 402 00:23:12,270 --> 00:23:12,630 cheer. 403 00:23:13,430 --> 00:23:16,890 There was a man who was suffering a 404 00:23:16,890 --> 00:23:20,450 crippling disease as the result of his sin. 405 00:23:21,330 --> 00:23:25,010 He had become an invalid as this particular 406 00:23:25,010 --> 00:23:31,490 disease, which was transmitted by sexual relationships, as 407 00:23:31,490 --> 00:23:34,010 it was taking its toll upon his body 408 00:23:34,010 --> 00:23:37,470 and now was helpless having to just lie 409 00:23:37,470 --> 00:23:38,210 on a cot. 410 00:23:38,970 --> 00:23:42,710 His friends brought him to Jesus and as 411 00:23:42,710 --> 00:23:45,550 Jesus looked upon him in that condition, he 412 00:23:45,550 --> 00:23:48,210 said, be of good cheer. 413 00:23:50,260 --> 00:23:52,720 Oh, how that must have brought comfort to 414 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:57,520 his mind that was plagued over his guilt, 415 00:23:58,220 --> 00:24:02,380 his mind that was constantly going back and 416 00:24:02,380 --> 00:24:04,040 saying, why did I do it? 417 00:24:05,500 --> 00:24:07,380 Why was I so foolish? 418 00:24:08,780 --> 00:24:09,260 Why? 419 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:12,280 And, you know, as you see your body 420 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:15,680 just slowly deteriorating and you can do nothing 421 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:18,340 about it and you realize it's my fault, 422 00:24:18,460 --> 00:24:21,320 it was my folly, it was my stupidity. 423 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:22,360 Why did I do it? 424 00:24:22,460 --> 00:24:24,880 It can be a very tormenting thing. 425 00:24:25,660 --> 00:24:27,340 And to this man, Jesus said, be of 426 00:24:27,340 --> 00:24:27,880 good cheer. 427 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:31,800 Your sin is forgiven. 428 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:36,680 To the disciples that were out on the 429 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:42,080 Sea of Galilee, struggling against a contrary wind, 430 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:44,920 they're in the middle of the sea, not 431 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:48,560 really progressing towards the other side. 432 00:24:50,180 --> 00:24:54,460 And at around midnight, Jesus came or was 433 00:24:54,460 --> 00:24:56,240 actually the fourth watch of the night. 434 00:24:56,700 --> 00:25:00,660 Jesus came walking to them on the water. 435 00:25:02,100 --> 00:25:04,500 And when they saw him walking toward them, 436 00:25:05,300 --> 00:25:08,060 they began to cry out in fright. 437 00:25:08,320 --> 00:25:09,960 They thought it was a ghost. 438 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:13,220 And as they were crying out in fear, 439 00:25:13,380 --> 00:25:15,580 Jesus said, be of good cheer. 440 00:25:16,740 --> 00:25:18,080 It's only me. 441 00:25:20,870 --> 00:25:21,970 Don't be afraid. 442 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:27,680 He told his disciples that in this world 443 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:31,480 you will have tribulation, but be of good 444 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:35,660 cheer because I have overcome the world. 445 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:39,020 Let not your heart be troubled. 446 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:42,740 Be of good cheer. 447 00:25:44,100 --> 00:25:45,700 You see, you can't be both. 448 00:25:46,500 --> 00:25:48,860 If your heart is troubled, you can't be 449 00:25:48,860 --> 00:25:49,720 of good cheer. 450 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:52,720 And if you are of good cheer, your 451 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:54,000 heart can't be troubled. 452 00:25:54,100 --> 00:25:56,600 They're sort of mutually exclusive. 453 00:25:57,700 --> 00:25:59,720 And Jesus is encouraging you today. 454 00:26:00,020 --> 00:26:01,580 Don't let your heart be troubled. 455 00:26:01,740 --> 00:26:03,600 Don't worry over these things. 456 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:06,940 Be anxious for nothing. 457 00:26:09,430 --> 00:26:10,370 Be of good cheer. 458 00:26:11,790 --> 00:26:12,930 Look to me. 459 00:26:14,110 --> 00:26:15,050 I'm here. 460 00:26:15,230 --> 00:26:16,150 I want to help you. 461 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:18,270 I will sustain you. 462 00:26:18,510 --> 00:26:21,330 I have the answers for you. 463 00:26:23,790 --> 00:26:26,510 Most of the panic that comes to us 464 00:26:26,510 --> 00:26:30,750 is from failing to figure God into the 465 00:26:30,750 --> 00:26:32,670 equations of life. 466 00:26:33,590 --> 00:26:36,210 I look at my present problem and I 467 00:26:36,210 --> 00:26:40,230 measure it by my resources and my ability 468 00:26:40,230 --> 00:26:41,110 to handle it. 469 00:26:41,190 --> 00:26:44,390 And I panic because I realize I don't 470 00:26:44,390 --> 00:26:47,770 have the ability or the strength to deal 471 00:26:47,770 --> 00:26:48,390 with this. 472 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:53,020 I need to remember not to measure though 473 00:26:53,020 --> 00:26:57,300 the situation by my capacities, but to measure 474 00:26:57,300 --> 00:26:59,560 them by his capacities. 475 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:04,360 It isn't an issue of can I cope 476 00:27:04,360 --> 00:27:05,140 with this? 477 00:27:05,580 --> 00:27:09,100 But can he cope with this? 478 00:27:10,180 --> 00:27:14,220 We are told in Psalm 56 that David 479 00:27:14,220 --> 00:27:17,860 was taken by the Philistines. 480 00:27:19,140 --> 00:27:21,620 He was in a frightening situation. 481 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:24,240 He was in the city of Gath. 482 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:31,900 And David prayed this prayer while they're taken 483 00:27:31,900 --> 00:27:33,280 by the Philistines. 484 00:27:33,300 --> 00:27:37,580 Be merciful unto me, O God, for man 485 00:27:37,580 --> 00:27:39,160 would swallow me up. 486 00:27:39,980 --> 00:27:43,380 His daily fighting oppresses me. 487 00:27:44,300 --> 00:27:47,600 My enemies would daily swallow me up, for 488 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:50,000 there are many that fight against me. 489 00:27:51,060 --> 00:27:54,540 O thou most high, when I am afraid, 490 00:27:54,860 --> 00:27:57,020 I will trust in thee. 491 00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:01,740 I will praise God's word, for I have 492 00:28:01,740 --> 00:28:03,460 put my trust in God. 493 00:28:03,820 --> 00:28:07,160 I will not fear what man might do 494 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:07,780 to me. 495 00:28:08,860 --> 00:28:10,840 You see, in this place of danger, in 496 00:28:10,840 --> 00:28:15,400 this place of peril, David turned it over 497 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:16,120 to God. 498 00:28:17,300 --> 00:28:19,640 Lord, I put my trust in you. 499 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:23,020 Deliver me from these men. 500 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:23,840 They're fighting. 501 00:28:24,060 --> 00:28:25,380 It oppresses me, Lord. 502 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:29,400 All of this tension that just, Lord, I 503 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:31,960 put my trust in you. 504 00:28:32,260 --> 00:28:35,640 I will not fear what they might do 505 00:28:35,640 --> 00:28:36,640 to me. 506 00:28:38,180 --> 00:28:40,420 David knew that he was no match for 507 00:28:40,420 --> 00:28:43,020 the Philistines, but he knew that the Philistines 508 00:28:43,020 --> 00:28:44,580 were no match for his God. 509 00:28:45,920 --> 00:28:48,160 Even so, you are no match for your 510 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:52,020 problems, but your problems are no problem to 511 00:28:52,020 --> 00:28:52,440 God. 512 00:28:54,990 --> 00:29:01,310 He that has perfect peace is among the 513 00:29:01,310 --> 00:29:04,630 richest people in the world today. 514 00:29:05,970 --> 00:29:11,750 To have a very beautiful estate, a huge 515 00:29:11,750 --> 00:29:16,770 mansion, what value is it if your heart 516 00:29:16,770 --> 00:29:21,550 is constantly troubled and you're constantly plagued with 517 00:29:21,550 --> 00:29:22,070 fear? 518 00:29:24,540 --> 00:29:27,780 What good is a bank account into the 519 00:29:27,780 --> 00:29:32,140 millions of dollars if at the hour of 520 00:29:32,140 --> 00:29:37,280 death or deep distress you do not have 521 00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:39,060 God to call upon? 522 00:29:40,120 --> 00:29:44,560 I have neither estates or mansions or large 523 00:29:44,560 --> 00:29:49,740 bank accounts, but I have heaven's resources at 524 00:29:49,740 --> 00:29:50,680 my disposal. 525 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:55,060 And thus, I'm one of the richest men 526 00:29:55,060 --> 00:29:56,580 in Newport Beach. 527 00:29:57,420 --> 00:29:59,420 I love to drive around and look at 528 00:29:59,420 --> 00:30:04,100 all of those lovely homes and realize I'm 529 00:30:04,100 --> 00:30:06,180 richer than any of the people living in 530 00:30:06,180 --> 00:30:09,920 any of these homes because I have heaven's 531 00:30:09,920 --> 00:30:12,040 resources at my disposal. 532 00:30:12,640 --> 00:30:13,880 And that's the glorious thing. 533 00:30:14,040 --> 00:30:19,940 You have heaven's resources at your disposal, and 534 00:30:19,940 --> 00:30:24,000 God will keep you in perfect peace when 535 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:27,440 your mind is stayed on him. 536 00:30:30,100 --> 00:30:32,500 So we need to fix our minds upon 537 00:30:32,500 --> 00:30:39,520 his greatness, his love, his power, his mercy, 538 00:30:40,440 --> 00:30:44,740 and his grace toward you and me because 539 00:30:44,740 --> 00:30:48,140 our God is an awesome God. 540 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:53,280 And through him, we need not fear any 541 00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:57,180 obstacle that the world could throw against us. 542 00:30:57,860 --> 00:31:00,700 For through God, we have the victory. 543 00:31:01,700 --> 00:31:02,260 Let's pray. 544 00:31:02,380 --> 00:31:07,200 Father, we're so thankful that you've made your 545 00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:12,440 resources available for us, your children, and that 546 00:31:12,440 --> 00:31:14,780 you have promised that you would provide for 547 00:31:14,780 --> 00:31:18,960 our every need according to your riches in 548 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:22,540 glory by Christ Jesus, our Lord. 549 00:31:23,500 --> 00:31:26,960 Lord, there are those here today who came 550 00:31:26,960 --> 00:31:28,280 with worried hearts. 551 00:31:29,220 --> 00:31:36,320 They're facing troubling situations, and these have created 552 00:31:36,320 --> 00:31:39,200 fear and anxieties. 553 00:31:40,420 --> 00:31:42,300 Lord, I pray that as they are here 554 00:31:42,300 --> 00:31:47,240 today, they might just fix their minds, Lord, 555 00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:52,920 upon you, upon your love and your greatness 556 00:31:53,580 --> 00:31:58,240 and your ability to help those who put 557 00:31:58,240 --> 00:32:00,540 their trust in you. 558 00:32:02,780 --> 00:32:10,040 Free them, Lord, from the fears that are 559 00:32:10,040 --> 00:32:14,140 so debilitating and are dragging them down. 560 00:32:14,940 --> 00:32:19,640 May they go, Lord, from this service with 561 00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:24,380 the confidence and the assurance that you're going 562 00:32:24,380 --> 00:32:28,360 to work as they place the issues in 563 00:32:28,360 --> 00:32:29,160 your hands. 564 00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:32,780 And may they go, Lord, with perfect peace 565 00:32:32,780 --> 00:32:37,420 as their minds have been stayed upon you 566 00:32:38,240 --> 00:32:42,160 and as they have put their trust in 567 00:32:42,160 --> 00:32:42,820 you today. 568 00:32:43,640 --> 00:32:45,580 In Jesus' name we pray. 569 00:32:46,480 --> 00:32:47,200 Amen. 570 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:49,120 Shall we stand? 571 00:32:54,580 --> 00:32:56,820 The pastors are down here at the front 572 00:32:56,820 --> 00:32:59,280 to pray for you today. 573 00:33:00,300 --> 00:33:04,040 If you are faced with some troubling situations 574 00:33:04,040 --> 00:33:07,520 that maybe are keeping you awake at night, 575 00:33:07,880 --> 00:33:12,540 maybe they're robbing you of sleep, you're worried, 576 00:33:12,660 --> 00:33:16,380 you're fearful, you're not certain as to what's 577 00:33:16,380 --> 00:33:19,840 going to happen and you really find yourself 578 00:33:19,840 --> 00:33:23,580 quite troubled, they're here to help you to 579 00:33:23,580 --> 00:33:28,280 connect with God today, to connect with his 580 00:33:28,280 --> 00:33:33,020 resources that he wants to make available to 581 00:33:33,020 --> 00:33:36,640 you if you would just trust in him. 582 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:40,820 So I would encourage you, don't leave the 583 00:33:40,820 --> 00:33:46,000 place today carrying the same burden that you 584 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:46,660 carried in. 585 00:33:47,880 --> 00:33:50,280 But as the scripture said, casting all your 586 00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:55,060 cares upon him because he cares for you. 587 00:33:55,860 --> 00:33:57,880 Go from this place carefree. 588 00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:02,340 Let him carry the burden for you. 589 00:34:03,300 --> 00:34:05,060 Turn it over to him and let him 590 00:34:05,060 --> 00:34:05,780 take care of it. 591 00:34:06,040 --> 00:34:07,440 He's promised that he would. 592 00:34:08,940 --> 00:34:12,179 And you're foolish to try to bear that 593 00:34:12,179 --> 00:34:13,760 load all yourself. 594 00:34:13,880 --> 00:34:16,120 It can drive you to distraction. 595 00:34:17,520 --> 00:34:21,360 So I would encourage you find today before 596 00:34:21,360 --> 00:34:25,300 you leave here, find that perfect peace that 597 00:34:25,300 --> 00:34:28,699 God wants you to experience through the commitment 598 00:34:28,699 --> 00:34:31,920 of these issues fully to him. 599 00:34:32,260 --> 00:34:33,900 These men are down here to pray for 600 00:34:33,900 --> 00:34:36,980 you and to help you find that perfect 601 00:34:36,980 --> 00:34:37,639 peace. 602 00:34:38,540 --> 00:34:45,520 The Lord bless thee and keep thee. 603 00:34:45,820 --> 00:34:51,780 The Lord make his face to shine upon 604 00:34:51,780 --> 00:34:57,740 thee and be gracious unto thee and be 605 00:34:57,740 --> 00:35:00,260 gracious unto thee. 606 00:35:00,820 --> 00:35:09,300 The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee 607 00:35:09,300 --> 00:35:13,320 and give thee peace. 608 00:35:38,300 --> 00:35:40,820 272 W.O.R.D.