TEXT: Isaiah 26:3-3

1. As we all know it was just one year ago last Wednesday that thousands of people lost their lives and many of them and thousands of others became heroes.

 

3. The relative peace of the American dream had changed. The statement, "it can’t happen here" became a paradox in itself because it did happen here.

4. Since the attacks upon our great nation, we have been living in troubled times.

1) Times troubled by – the ever-present threat of another attack.

2) Times troubled by – a country at war against terrorism.

3) Times troubled by – a struggling economy, further damaged by the attacks.

4) Times troubled by – not knowing from one day to the next if our jobs are secure.

5) Times troubled by – the threat to retirement funds that many thought were secure.

6) Times troubled by – the possibility of war with Iraq.

5. Troubled times, for a troubled nation.

6. So the question is how do we regain the relative peace that we had on September 10, 2001?

7. The answer to that burning question lies in the scriptures. It lies in the word of God.

8. It’s not a secret; it is not hidden in some secret code in the Bible that many would have you to believe.

9. It is as plain as the nose on my face, what we need to do.

10. Too many people have lost focus of what is needed in order to have peace.

11. Our country is continually focused on the events of 9-11. Not a day goes by that some mention of that tragic day is not made on the evening news, or in the daily papers.

12. I am not saying that we do not need to remember what happened or those that lost their lives.

13. Nor do we need to forget who perpetrated those tragedies upon our nation.

14. But in order for us to have true peace in this nation, and in our lives; one thing needs to happen, and it needs to happen quickly.

15. It is a promise of God that we need to rely on in order to have this peace.

16. But as with all promises there is one condition.

17. This condition is what we must do to have peace.
Isaiah 26:3 tells us ?thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.?

18. In order for us to have peace, all we need to do is focus our minds on God.

19. When we focus our minds on God, then along with that focus comes a greater awareness of his love and power and patience and trust in him and his power.

20. That is all we, as individuals need, to experience a peace that the word of God calls perfect (TEXT).

21. What we as a nation need to do then is to focus on God and trust in him during these times.

22. This scripture does not mean that troubles won’t come, but what is does mean is that we can face these troubles with the peace of mind that God is going to work it out for our own good.

23. This is the peace that we need in our lives to get good nights sleep. T

24. his is the peace that allows us to realize that terrorists can hurt us, maim us and kill us, but they can never take the eternal part of us away from God and that is our soul.

25. If we have accepted Jesus Christ as our lord and savior, we have perfect peace. We have believed in him, and he tells us that if we believe in him, then we need to believe in God.

(John 14:1 NNAS) "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.

(Rom 8:31-33 NKJV) What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? {32} He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? {33} Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.

26. That belief, that focus can give us the peace that we need to make it through the troubled times that will come our way.

27. We should never count on a life that is trouble free. That is not a part of the human experience.

(John 16:33 NKJV) "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."

(Heb 13:5-6 NKJV) Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." {6} So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

28. But the one thing that we can count on is the peace that God gives his children during troubled times.

29. We need to stop focusing on what happened on 911, and start focusing on God.

(Isa 26:3-4 NKJV) You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. {4} Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.

30. We need to quit living in the past, and live for the future, and that future starts with a mind that is steadfast on God.

(Phil 3:13-14 NKJV) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, {14} I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

31. We need to realize that what we have down here is temporary and will not last, but the one thing that will last is our soul,and the only way to have peace of mind concerning our soul is to have a mind steadfast on God.

(2 Cor 4:14-18 NKJV) knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. {15} For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. {16} Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. {17} For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, {18} while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

32. We need to live lives that are ready to meet Jesus. Because we are not promised tomorrow.

33. Not one of those people who perished last year, knew what was in store for them when they woke up that fateful day.

(James 4:13-17 NKJV) Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; {14} whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. {15} Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." {16} But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. {17} Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

34. We never know what is in store for our lives when we wake up in the morning. But the way to know what is going to happen to us after we die, lies in a mind that is stayed on Christ Jesus.

35. It lies in a life that is being lived to please the lord, and one that trusts in him.

36. The way to have perfect peace is to live for the future, the future of heaven and to stop living in the past.

37. We need to stop living the tragedies of 911 over and over again. We need to remember what has happened and learn,

38. that true peace can only come from a mind focused on God.

39. True peace will not come from pursuing and eradicating those responsible, although justice needs to be done.

40. True peace will not come from staying focused on what has happened in the past.

41. True peace will not come from material blessings.

(1 Tim 6:6-11 NKJV) Now godliness with contentment is great gain. {7} For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. {8} And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. {9} But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. {10} For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. {11} But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

42. True peace can only come from being focused on God.

43. Focus on him during troubled times, and he will give you perfect peace, because you have placed your trust in him.

44. In contrast we see this same Isaiah describing the people of his time looking for peace in all the wrong places.

(Isa 5:8-9 NKJV) Woe to those who join house to house; They add field to field, Till there is no place Where they may dwell alone in the midst of the land! {9} In my hearing the LORD of hosts said, "Truly, many houses shall be desolate, Great and beautiful ones, without inhabitant.

(Isa 5:11-16 NKJV) Woe to those who rise early in the morning, That they may follow intoxicating drink; Who continue until night, till wine inflames them! {12} The harp and the strings, The tambourine and flute, And wine are in their feasts; But they do not regard the work of the LORD, Nor consider the operation of His hands. {13} Therefore my people have gone into captivity, Because they have no knowledge; Their honorable men are famished, And their multitude dried up with thirst. {14} Therefore Sheol has enlarged itself And opened its mouth beyond measure; Their glory and their multitude and their pomp, And he who is jubilant, shall descend into it. {15} People shall be brought down, Each man shall be humbled, And the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled. {16} But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, And God who is holy shall be hallowed in righteousness.

(Isa 5:18-19 NIV) Woe to those who draw sin along with cords of deceit, and wickedness as with cart ropes, {19} to those who say, "Let God hurry, let him hasten his work so we may see it. Let it approach, let the plan of the Holy One of Israel come, so we may know it."

(Isa 5:20-21 NKJV) Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! {21} Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!

the first Sunday after the anniversary of the 911-2001 World Trade Center bombing.

dave@wcofc.org