If you were to poll bikers, the majority of them would say that they find peace when they ride.
    •    The fresh air
    •    The sound and gentle rumble of the V-Twin engine…well perhaps not to gentle if you ride a harley.
    •    The ability to enjoy a great view as you ride
    •    Just heading out with no agenda or destination in mind.

Question: What do you do to chill out…to find peace?

I admit, I do experience a sense of peace when I ride. But what happens when you put the bike back in the garage? The peace fades away.

Those who don’t ride a motorcycle, pursue peace in numerous ways:
    •    A hot cup of herbal tea and a good book,
    •    A long walk on the beach before the bennies come
    •    Listening to New Age music
    •    even abusing alcohol or drugs.
But what’s true at the end of the bike ride is also true at the end of the cup of tea or the bottom of the bottle of Jack…peace fades away. Wouldn’t it be great is you could enjoy a peace that won’t fade away even when the bike is put away of the long walk on the beach is over? That’s what I want to talk about this morning.

Transition: Open your Bibles to John 14:27. (If you are using the bible under the chair in front of you, it’s page 824) It’s here we will begin our pursuit of lasting peace.

John 14:27            The Giver of Peace
PP  Read: John 14:27

Earlier in our text, Jesus told his disciples that he was leaving and they couldn’t go with him. They were devastated and afraid of what the future held for them.
Knowing this, Jesus tells them that he is giving them the gift of peace. Not just any kind of peace, not peace as the world gives which perhaps can be helpful in the short run, but eventually fades away. No, the peace Jesus is giving them is different…because it’s peace that lasts.

How can his peace last? Let’s piece it together from what we have already looked at in John 14.
    •    The disciples were troubled and afraid of their future w/o Jesus.
    •    Jesus said he will ask the Father and he will send another Comforter, one just like Jesus, to do the things Jesus did for them.
    •    This Comforter, who is revealed as the Holy Spirit, will live in them which is even better than Jesus living beside them.
    •    This Comforter, the Holy Spirit, will never leave them.
    •    Jesus told them the peace he is giving them is ‘My Peace’. The same peace that will take him through the horrific beatings of the religious leaders and
          straight to the cross.
    •    This peace, the peace that Jesus gives will last forever.
    •    Do you see it? Jesus is connecting the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, with his peace.
    •    The reason it last forever is because it comes from the Holy Spirit who lives inside the believer forever.

What Jesus is saying is that it’s only the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life that will bring lasting peace…and the greatest thing is…the Holy Spirit and the peace he brings, is a free gift to all who believe in Jesus.

Jesus is saying to his disciples then and now ‘don’t be troubled about your future, I know your future, I will be with you and since I created everything that exists, I can handle your future.’

When you trust Jesus to keep his word, you’ll find peace, regardless of your circumstances.

Transition: Peace…I have been talking about it but I think we need to define it so we can put a handle on it.

ILL: Someone once said that peace is that glorious moment in history when everyone stands around…reloading.

Peace Defined: Dictionary.com defines peace this way
1.    The absence of war or other hostilities.
2.    Inner contentment; serenity
3.    Freedom from quarrels and disagreement; harmonious relations.

The biblical idea of peace is
•    Completeness, restoring something to it’s original state, to it’s purpose.
•    Shalom is the Hebrew word for peace. Along with the idea of completeness, it’s a deep serenity that comes from the knowledge of God’s love for us.

Transition: Perhaps you’re not buying the biblical idea of peace. Let’s briefly see how dictionary.com’s definition holds up to biblical scrutiny.

1. Upward Peace: Peace With God
Dictionary.com’s first definition of peace is: The absence of war or other hostilities. Biblical peace, the peace that Jesus gives is an upward peace…that is ‘Peace with God’.

    •    Ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God then ran and hid from him, we have been doing the same.
    •    We fight God, we doubt God, we disobey God, we ignore God.

The Apostle James says that our war with God is the result of our choice to make friends with the world.  

PP  Read: James  4:4 ‘You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.’

Our choice to live the way the world tells us rather than how God tells us is sin and makes us enemies with God. But our faith in Jesus makes us friends with God, therefore at Peace with God. Listen to what the Apostle Paul says…

PP  Read: Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (NIV)

In order to find true and lasting peace in life, our open hostilities with God must cease. We must be at peace with God and that only comes by placing our trust in Jesus.

It seems dictoionary.com’s forst definition of peace fits in with the Biblical idea.  

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2. Inward Peace: Peace of God
Dictionary.com’s second definition of peace is inner contentment and serenity. Biblical peace, the peace that Jesus gives is also an inward peace…that is the ‘Peace of God’.

We live in a culture that teaches us to never to be satisfied with who we are and what we’ve got.
    •    We look at our face and wish our wrinkles were gone or our hair was back.
    •    We look at our stuff and wish we had more and better stuff.
    •    And we’re taught that these are the things that will make us happy in life, that ill bring us inner peace.

ILL Tracey Lippard was crowned Miss Williamsburg 1993. She served her year well representing the City of Williamsburg in many activities. As her reign came to an end in February 1994 she crowned her successor and then drove 250 miles to kill her boyfriend’s new lover and that girl’s parents. When asked why she did what she did, she said that she was just looking for “inner peace”. (Ed Vasichek)

It looked like Tracey had it all…beauty, fame, success, but she still lacked inner peace and was willing to do anything to get it.

The Apostle Paul tells us about this inward peace of God.

PP Read: Phil. 4:6-7 ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’
Inward peace, the peace of God, the peace Jesus gives will guard your heart against fear and worry when you place your trust in him.

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    •    Maybe you’re here carrying a heavy burden.
    •    Maybe you’re here and your days and nights are filled with worry about something.

Listen closely to the Apostle Paul’s words…to God’s Word…

PP Read: Phil 4:11 ‘I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.’

PP Read: Phil 4:19 ‘And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.’

Inward peace, peace of God calms our heart and makes us content, no matter the circumstance…because we are assured of God’s unfailing, unending live for us…and that he wants us to be complete, living out our purpose for him.

It seems dictoionary.com’s second definition of peace and the biblical idea are on the same page. One last comparison.

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3. Outward Peace: Peace Through God
Dictionary.com’s third definition of peace is: Freedom from quarrels and disagreement; harmonious relations. Biblical peace, the peace that Jesus gives is an outward peace…that is ‘Peace through God’.

Is there anyone in your life that you’re having a difficult time being at peace with?  Have you given up?

The Apostle Paul writing to the church in Rome said

PP  Read: Rom. 14:19a ‘Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace.’

PP Read: Rom 12:18 ‘If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.’

I know it’s hard, especially with some people. But God wants us to try. We are not responsible for how other react to our gestures of peace. But we are responsible to make the gestures.

The peace Jesus gives unites people.

PP Read: Eph. 2:14 ‘For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility’ The two Paul is talking about here were the Gentiles and Jews, enemies for centuries. By faith in Jesus, we can be at peace with others.

Outward peace, peace through God
    •    Ends prejudice
    •    Ends name calling and labeling
    •    Ends judging people based on income, talent, looks, education, color of skin, even what kind of bike they ride.

It seems dictoionary.com’s final definition of peace is in line with the Biblical idea…perhaps you can trust God’s Word after all?

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Conclusion
Are you are at war this morning. At war with yourself, with someone else, or perhaps even with God. If you answered yes, then God invites you to receive his peace.

Bike rides, long walks on the beach, a great, well paying job, well behaved, obedient children, and a loving marriage might bring temporary peace but we all know it doesn’t last.

The very thing that the disciples needed in our text this morning, is the very thing Jesus offered them…lasting peace. And he’s offering it to you too.
John 14:27 says that Jesus will give you his peace. It comes very simply…by placing your trust in Jesus. Trust for what?
    •    To forgive the sins that separate you from God and make you his enemy.
    •    To send you the Holy Spirit to live in you forever
    •    To give you the assurance of eternal life in heaven.

Jesus promises ‘Come to me all you who are heavy burdened and I will give you rest.’

Take Jesus at his word.
When you do you will find true and lasting peace.