November 13, 2022
PERFECT PEACE Part 1: Peace for Your Past
(Isaiah 26:3 NLT) You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
(Philippians 1:12-14 NIV) Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
Imprisoned By Your Past
- Unfulfilled _____________.
(Proverbs 13:12 NIV) Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
- Untreated __________.
(Luke 2:34-35 NIV) Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
- Unresolved ___________.
(Ephesians 4:26-27 NIV) In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
- Forgiveness doesn’t mean it ________________.
- Forgiveness doesn’t mean it ________________.
- Forgiveness doesn’t mean _________________.
(Philippians 1:15-18,20-22 NIV) It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice…I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Peace for Your Past
- Your biggest sins are not too big for __________.
(Acts 22:4 NIV) I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison.
- You are not ________________________. You are ____________________________.
(2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT) Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
- Your __________ wasn’t your fault, but the __________ is your responsibility.
- _______________ of your trauma
(2 Corinthians 1:8 NIV) We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.
- _______________________ with your trauma.
(2 Corinthians12:8-10 NIV) Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”…That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
- __________________ in your trauma.
(2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
- You can’t ________________________, but Christ can ______________________.
(Philippians 3:13-14 NLT) I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.