Reflections on Scripture with Dr. Leins
| Time Stamp | Transcript |
| 0:14 | hello |
| 0:19 | today |
| 0:21 | let’s talk about the Peace of the Lord |
| 0:25 | recently I was talking with my dear |
| 0:28 | friend Pastor Dean Stoner we were |
| 0:30 | discussing the meaning of the word peace |
| 0:33 | suddenly my friend had a flashing |
| 0:35 | insight |
| 0:36 | isn’t God’s idea of Peace very different |
| 0:40 | from our own he said well that makes |
| 0:43 | sense |
| 0:44 | God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and |
| 0:46 | God’s ways are not our ways of course |
| 0:48 | God’s idea of peace is different from |
| 0:52 | our own |
| 0:53 | when you think of peace |
| 0:55 | it may be of a childhood memory lying in |
| 0:59 | a meadow watching the clouds or sitting |
| 1:02 | on the seashore entrance by the waves |
| 1:05 | for gazing at the night sky looking at |
| 1:08 | the stars peace means quiet without |
| 1:11 | trouble or care |
| 1:13 | as adults we long for such a moment of |
| 1:16 | Peace if only we could find one |
| 1:19 | our pressures and worries are like a |
| 1:22 | great storm that rarely ever subsides |
| 1:25 | so what do you think Jesus meant when so |
| 1:28 | often he spoke peace to his disciples he |
| 1:32 | said Peace be with you |
| 1:36 | and Jesus said Peace I leave you my |
| 1:40 | peace I give unto you not as the world |
| 1:42 | giveth give I unto you let not your |
| 1:45 | hearts be troubled neither let them be |
| 1:47 | afraid |
| 1:49 | Jesus gave them his peace but what is |
| 1:52 | this peace of the Lord |
| 1:55 | recently I read of an art contest the |
| 1:59 | artists |
| 2:00 | were to see who can make the most |
| 2:02 | peaceful painting there were many |
| 2:04 | entries as you might expect but one |
| 2:07 | stole the show it was of a terrible Sky |
| 2:11 | filled with lightning and storm it |
| 2:14 | showed a ferocious Cliff with water |
| 2:17 | roaring over the edge and at the side of |
| 2:20 | the Ragged Cliff was a scrawny tree |
| 2:23 | hanging on for dear life |
| 2:25 | but in the branch of the tree was a nest |
| 2:29 | with a mother bird covering her young |
| 2:32 | her eyes were closed and she was at |
| 2:35 | peace |
| 2:37 | is that something of what Jesus is |
| 2:39 | talking about when he speaks peace to |
| 2:42 | his disciples and when Jesus speaks |
| 2:45 | peace to us |
| 2:46 | Jesus says peace |
| 2:49 | be with you |
| 2:50 | it is not the absence of trouble and |
| 2:53 | storm that Jesus offers in this life |
| 2:56 | but in the midst of trouble and storm |
| 2:59 | Jesus gives his disciples |
| 3:02 | his faithful secure and perfect peace |
| 3:07 | Jesus is the Prince of Peace he gives a |
| 3:10 | peace that the world cannot give that |
| 3:13 | the world cannot take away but this |
| 3:16 | Prince of Peace may become a stumbling |
| 3:18 | block for others your faith in him and |
| 3:21 | even the love that he demonstrates |
| 3:23 | through you may become an offense to |
| 3:26 | those who do not believe |
| 3:28 | faith in Christ can break apart families |
| 3:33 | a family member May complain |
| 3:36 | Saturday is a day for play |
| 3:39 | why do you go off to serve at that food |
| 3:41 | pantry |
| 3:43 | why are you involved with child literacy |
| 3:46 | why are you going to the woman’s shelter |
| 3:49 | even a parent May grumble |
| 3:52 | Sunday is our family day why do you go |
| 3:55 | to that church every Sunday morning |
| 3:58 | you’re choosing your God over your |
| 4:00 | family |
| 4:02 | the Lord explains that your faith in him |
| 4:05 | and even loving others in his name may |
| 4:07 | become a source of division in your |
| 4:10 | relationships yes even members of your |
| 4:13 | own family may take offense |
| 4:15 | Jesus is recorded in Matthew chapter 10 |
| 4:19 | verses 34 and 35 do you not think that I |
| 4:23 | came to bring peace on the earth I did |
| 4:25 | not come to bring peace but a sword for |
| 4:27 | I came to set a man against his father |
| 4:29 | and a daughter against her mother and a |
| 4:32 | daughter-in-law against her |
| 4:34 | mother-in-law |
| 4:37 | you may be rejected by your own family |
| 4:39 | and even more |
| 4:42 | in some countries vast portions of the |
| 4:46 | population are making Christian |
| 4:48 | practices unwanted offensive and even |
| 4:52 | illegal |
| 4:54 | Christian words and practices may be |
| 4:57 | viewed as biased or bigoted or abusive |
| 5:01 | some people may be offended |
| 5:03 | by public prayer |
| 5:05 | or Bible reading or Christian speech |
| 5:10 | they may retaliate with persecution |
| 5:14 | how can you remain faithful to the |
| 5:16 | lordship of Jesus Christ in your life |
| 5:18 | and at the same time exhibit the love of |
| 5:20 | God and the mercy of God for all those |
| 5:24 | around you even those who are offended |
| 5:26 | by your Christian faith and practice |
| 5:29 | that is a great challenge |
| 5:32 | in Matthew chapter 10 verse 38 Jesus |
| 5:36 | tells his disciples |
| 5:39 | and he who does not take his cross and |
| 5:42 | follow after me is not worthy of me |
| 5:47 | now in this verse |
| 5:48 | the verb here in Greek is lambano |
| 5:52 | it means to take or to receive |
| 5:56 | you can rightly translate this verse he |
| 5:58 | or she who does not receive his cross |
| 6:00 | and follow after me is not worthy of me |
| 6:04 | the expectation is that each and every |
| 6:07 | Christian will in some way receive a |
| 6:10 | cross each Christian will receive a form |
| 6:13 | of suffering that is part of his or her |
| 6:16 | Journey of Faith and discipleship |
| 6:19 | humiliation |
| 6:21 | mistreatment service |
| 6:23 | sacrifice suffering |
| 6:26 | all are part of was what is expected for |
| 6:29 | those who follow Jesus |
| 6:31 | I should add and returning love and |
| 6:34 | kindness to those who oppose and |
| 6:37 | persecute you also if is part of |
| 6:40 | receiving your cross and following Jesus |
| 6:43 | the message that we might like to hear |
| 6:45 | is of a Christianity without suffering |
| 6:49 | this false theology might suggest if you |
| 6:52 | are faithful you’ll never lack money or |
| 6:55 | you’ll never be sick or you’ll never |
| 6:58 | have any sorrow |
| 7:00 | this false theology might say if you |
| 7:03 | have enough faith |
| 7:06 | you’ll have your best life now your most |
| 7:09 | prosperous life here and your most |
| 7:12 | enjoyable fun every day |
| 7:14 | but beloved |
| 7:16 | that is not what our lord Jesus teaches |
| 7:19 | in His Holy Bible |
| 7:20 | that is a false Christianity built upon |
| 7:23 | a false understanding of God’s peace |
| 7:28 | in contrast to that falsehood Jesus |
| 7:30 | offers a Christianity with a cross |
| 7:34 | Jesus had riches |
| 7:37 | but no such prosperity |
| 7:39 | Jesus had food but often his disciples |
| 7:42 | couldn’t even see it and Jesus had peace |
| 7:46 | in the midst of suffering and sorrow |
| 7:50 | Jesus gave his disciples his peace and |
| 7:53 | he taught them how to rejoice in their |
| 7:55 | suffering and how to trust God in the |
| 7:58 | midst of their sorrow and sacrifice all |
| 8:01 | of that is part of what Jesus meant when |
| 8:04 | he called his followers to receive their |
| 8:06 | cross and follow after him |
| 8:09 | now finally |
| 8:13 | Jesus says something in Matthew chapter |
| 8:15 | 10 verses 40-42 it takes a bit more |
| 8:19 | explanation |
| 8:20 | Jesus said he who receives you receives |
| 8:23 | me and he who receives me receives him |
| 8:26 | who sent me he who receives a prophet in |
| 8:30 | the name of a prophet shall receive a |
| 8:32 | prophet’s reward and he who receives a |
| 8:35 | righteous man in the name of a righteous |
| 8:37 | man shall receive a righteous man’s |
| 8:39 | reward and whoever in the name of a |
| 8:42 | disciple gives to one of these little |
| 8:44 | ones even a cup of cold water to drink |
| 8:47 | truly I say to you you shall not lose |
| 8:50 | his reward |
| 8:52 | Now what is |
| 8:54 | that which the Lord Jesus is teaching |
| 8:57 | here |
| 8:59 | first if you receive Jesus you receive |
| 9:02 | the father that’s clear enough because |
| 9:03 | Jesus and the father are one if you get |
| 9:06 | Christ you get the father too |
| 9:08 | second |
| 9:09 | if you receive a prophet that is one who |
| 9:12 | forth tells or foretells the true word |
| 9:15 | of God if you receive and believe his |
| 9:17 | word you receive what the prophet |
| 9:19 | himself received |
| 9:21 | justification by grace through faith and |
| 9:24 | eternal life |
| 9:25 | and if you receive a righteous man that |
| 9:28 | is a sinner who has become righteous by |
| 9:30 | grace through faith |
| 9:32 | then you will receive the reward that he |
| 9:34 | received he became a child of God |
| 9:37 | through faith with the spirit upon him |
| 9:40 | and the presence of Jesus within him |
| 9:43 | when you receive him and his message you |
| 9:47 | receive these same blessings |
| 9:50 | and third |
| 9:51 | if you give even a cup of cold water |
| 9:54 | that is the least of kind actions in the |
| 9:57 | name of even the least of the Believers |
| 10:00 | you will not lose your reward |
| 10:03 | that is |
| 10:04 | what you have done in faith |
| 10:07 | Jesus will appreciate so much and the |
| 10:09 | father will be so glad |
| 10:11 | that the father and the son will give |
| 10:13 | you the riches of their Kingdom |
| 10:17 | that is |
| 10:19 | there are rewards for the sake of even |
| 10:21 | the smallest of faith that results in |
| 10:24 | even the tiniest of kindly actions |
| 10:29 | over and over again |
| 10:32 | in each and every Divine service |
| 10:35 | the words of the Peace of Jesus are |
| 10:38 | spoken to you |
| 10:40 | you’ve heard them |
| 10:42 | in peace let us pray to the Lord or |
| 10:46 | the Peace of the Lord be with you always |
| 10:49 | for |
| 10:51 | Grace be unto you and peace from God our |
| 10:54 | Father and the Lord Jesus Christ |
| 10:56 | or |
| 10:58 | the peace of God that passes all |
| 11:01 | understanding keep your hearts and Minds |
| 11:04 | in Christ Jesus |
| 11:06 | the peace that Jesus gives to you is not |
| 11:10 | freedom from suffering or from service |
| 11:12 | or from sacrifice |
| 11:16 | Jesus gives you his peace in the midst |
| 11:19 | of sacrifice and service and suffering |
| 11:23 | make no mistake |
| 11:24 | it is going to cost you to receive your |
| 11:27 | cross and follow him |
| 11:29 | it is going to cost you to love your |
| 11:31 | enemies and pray for those who persecute |
| 11:34 | you |
| 11:35 | where do you get such peace |
| 11:37 | and how are you going to be able to hold |
| 11:39 | on to it in the day of trouble |
| 11:43 | the Prince of Peace Jesus the son of God |
| 11:46 | already is alive and at work in you you |
| 11:51 | don’t have to go find that peace and |
| 11:53 | you’re not required to manufacture it |
| 11:55 | yourself the Peace of Jesus already is |
| 11:58 | yours right now |
| 12:00 | Jesus is pouring himself and his peace |
| 12:03 | upon you and into you |
| 12:06 | though you may feel like a rock instead |
| 12:08 | of a sponge |
| 12:10 | Jesus is giving you his peace |
| 12:14 | he has also given you the faith to hold |
| 12:16 | on to it the faith to receive it so be |
| 12:19 | attentive beloved to the storms that |
| 12:22 | would steal your peace |
| 12:24 | do not fall to them |
| 12:27 | be like the little bird on the edge of |
| 12:29 | the great torrent be at peace where |
| 12:32 | Jesus overshadows you and stands beside |
| 12:35 | you and lives within you he has promised |
| 12:39 | you that he will never leave you nor |
| 12:42 | forsake you and even now |
| 12:46 | Jesus is giving you his peace every |
| 12:50 | moment |
| 12:51 | of each and every day |
| 12:55 | the peace of God |
| 12:57 | that passes all understanding |
| 13:00 | keep your heart and mind |
| 13:03 | in Christ Jesus |
| 13:06 | amen |
| 13:13 | thank you |
| 13:14 | [Music] |
| 13:25 | [Applause] |
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