Peace Unto All

What’s your definition of peace? Most people describe peace as a sense of calmness, fearlessness, or the absence of anxiety. Peace could also be described as the absence of war or difficult times. In this message, “Peace Unto All”, Pastor Eric walks us through what it looks like to have true peace in our lives, why it’s so hard for us to obtain, and provides us with a handful of takeaways, obtained from scripture, to help us achieve peace in our own lives!

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33

Did you know it’s possible to have the peace of God in any and every situation? In the verse John 16:33, Jesus says “that in ME you may have peace.” You can have peace despite the disturbances within your life! When you are in a relationship with Jesus, you can have peace despite everything that is going on within the world.

What does true inner peace from God look like? Simon Peter, in the book of Acts, Chapter 12, demonstrates just how powerful the peace of God can be. Simon Peter is apprehended, placed in a prison cell guarded by more than a dozen guards, and sentenced to death! But despite this obvious tribulation in this life, he chooses to relax and sleep peacefully, fully trusting in God. An angel of the Lord does come to rescue Simon Peter but has difficulty waking him up because of the peaceful state of relaxation Simon Peter has entered. This is what true inner peace from God looks like! Unfortunately, many of us have never experienced this level of peace.

Why don’t we have the peace God planned for us? God wants us to experience peace, but we must be in a proper relationship with Him to experience His peace within us. The enemy is constantly trying to draw us away from a proper relationship with God. The enemy wants us to be separated from God. Our iniquities… our immoral behavior… our sin… is separating us from God’s peace.

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you So that He will not hear. -Isaiah 59:2 (NIV)

What does your relationship with God look like? If you are struggling with a lack of peace yourself, maybe you need to review your proximity to God. We are all searching for inner peace. Sometimes we pursue peace in self-help books, podcasts, and videos. For others, it may be counseling, therapy, or prescription medications. There’s nothing wrong with any of these pursuits, but we need to know that true inner peace only comes from a close relationship with God. God just wants your whole heart and soul. He wants your willingness to give Him your life. God wants to give us His peace!

Here is what you need to know about peace based on scripture:

1. THERE IS PEACE ON EARTH

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27 (NKJV)

2. GOD’S PEACE IS GIVEN TO YOU

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you… -John 14:27 (NKJV)

3. TROUBLE DOESN’T HAVE TO TROUBLE YOU

Peace, I leave with you, My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. -John 14:27 (NKJV)

4. FEAR IS A PERSONAL DECISION

…neither let it be afraid. -John 14:27 (NKJV)

Unwrap the gift called peace! Let God’s peace rule in you.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts… -Colossians 3:15 (NKJV)

There are so many more wonderful takeaways from this message, “Peace Unto All”, I invite you to view this message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/l1mCso0hnzU

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE| MESSAGE NOTES

We want to connect with you and help you take your next steps!

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving peace in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.
   

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.
   

3. Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin
   

4. Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.

People of the Bible: New Testament Review

The Bible begins with the account of the creation of the world and it ends with explaining how God will one day create a new world. In the beginning, God created a perfect world, but through sin, the world became corrupt. The devil deceived Adam and Eve, and through their sin, death and suffering entered into the world. Humanity became separated from God through sin, and ever since we have been trying to recover what has been lost.

For a long time, humans tried to do this on their own but the gap of sin was too wide. God would intervene in certain situations and reveal glimpses of his everlasting love that put our “love” to shame by comparison. But even then, humanity failed to recover the relationship they had with God in the beginning. Thankfully, however, that is not the end of the story.

The New Testament begins with a long held promise from God coming to fruition. God sent His only son, in the form of a human to live with us. Jesus, being the son of God, came down from heaven as a baby. Jesus lived a perfect life and would eventually reveal that he was the Messiah, the person everyone had been waiting for. As the Messiah, Jesus would bridge the gap between humanity and God and allow for this relationship to be recovered once and for all.

However, many did not believe Jesus. Those who did not believe him sent him to die on the cross. The devil thought he had won once again, but the story wasn’t over. Jesus rose from the grave three days after his death. Through the cross and his resurrection, he has died for our sins and he has given eternal life to anyone who believes that he is the son of God.

Before Jesus returned to heaven, he gave his followers commands. He has told all those that follow him that we should spread his message far and wide. We should strive to live like Jesus and tell those around us what he has done. We are to show love to one another because of how much love Jesus has shown for us by dying in our place and giving us eternal life.

The Bible is God’s story, and we are a part of that story. The New Testament specifically tells us about how Jesus has paved the way for us to live with him forever; as well as teaching us how to live more like him.

Key Takeaways:

• God Created Everything

• Christ Gives Us Eternal Life

• We Should Love Others

Parents, 3treesKIDS will also be reviewing the New Testament this Sunday, both in-person and online.

Be sure to check out their lesson at www.3trees.com/kids.

To find service times and locations, visit https://www.3trees.com/planyourvisit.

How to Live a Life of Thanksliving

This past Sunday our church had the opportunity to hear a powerful message from Pastor Jason Hood, Thanksliving, encouraging us to have a heart that is not only thankful in a particular season but stays in a spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving continually as a way of life.

Have you ever walked through a season of depression? Or maybe a season when your Spirit felt down, discouraged, or disengaged? We have all probably faced challenging seasons like this at some point in our lives. But did you know you have the power to choose joy? There is power in thanking God for what you do have, instead of what you are lacking. The enemy wants us to focus on what's wrong in our lives, but gratitude for what you do have is a powerful tool to change the way you live your life.

We serve a God who makes a way where there seems to be no way. He is a God of hope. He is a God who has promised us an abundant life and future. His goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives.

And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

-Psalm 107:22 (KJV)

It’s easy for us to forget that ungratefulness is a sin- it’s truly ugly, wrong, and offensive. Knowing this should cause us to pay incredible attention to our thoughts and actions regarding being ungrateful. Paul, speaks about unthankfulness in our last days...

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

-2 Timothy 3:1-5

Oftentimes we are caught grumbling and complaining more than we are speaking about the things we are grateful for. True gratitude is an overflow of our hearts.

...out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.-Matthew 12:34 (NKJV)

If you are thankful, and you're living a life of Thanksliving, then communicate it. Declare your thankfulness, by doing so you are shining a light into darkness!

But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. -Hebrews 13:16 (KJV)

So how do we keep these truths close to our hearts, avoid the sin of ungratefulness, and start living a life of Thanksliving?

We offer sacrifices to God. In the Old Testament, Scripture teaches us that sacrifices of thanksgiving were made of animals, fruits, and grains. In the New Testament, Scripture teaches us that we are to offer spiritual sacrifices.

If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. -1 Peter 2:3-5

Pastor Jason provided us with these 3 Spiritual Sacrifices we can offer God. This is how we live lives of thanksliving:

1) THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE

It is a Biblical command that we continually praise and worship Jesus, it is not a suggestion. God considers your praise to be very valuable! But you must enter into praise from your free will, God knows the posture of your heart.

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. -Hebrews 13:15 (KJV)

Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments. -Psalm 119:108

2) THE SACRIFICE OF PRAYER

God enjoys hanging out with a thankful heart. Just like us, God doesn’t want to hang out with someone who just ate dill pickle soup, is a sour patch kid, or is a negative Nancy. God enjoys positive, thankful, and joyful people. Tell God in prayer all the things you are thankful for, list them out and speak them out loud! Draw near to God through choosing joy and choosing thanksgiving. Rejoice in prayer!

Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. -Psalm 141:2 (KJV)

In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy. -1 Timothy 2:8 (NLT)

3) THE SACRIFICE OF YOU

Jesus gave His life for you. Have you given your body, your life, to Him? Are you all in with God, because He wants all of you! Are you giving everything you have and everything you do to God to be used and guided by Him? We are blessed to be the hands and feet of Jesus here on Earth.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. -Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)

Maybe it’s time to evaluate your life. Are you living a life of thanksliving? Or have you let the sin of ungratefulness sneak in and take root. Are you grumbling and complaining more than you are praising and worshiping? Are you asking God for more things in your prayer life than you are saying thank you for? Does God have your whole heart? It’s never too late to choose joy, step into an attitude of gratitude, and allow thankfulness to pour out of your heart in abundance to the Lord.

This is how we shed light, overcome darkness, and defeat the enemy.

I invite you to view this message, “Thanksliving” in its entirety at this link:

We want to connect with you and help you take your next steps!

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving the anointing in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.

3. Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin

4. Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE| MESSAGE NOTES