With all the things that are happening around us, it is easy to fall into the traps of fear, anxiety and stress. Yet God is still Sovereign and still has a good plan.

As real as this virus is, the power of God is still real and powerful.

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The Word of God is greater than any virus and any circumstances we face. We put our hope in the Word of God; His Word never returns to Him void. (Isaiah 55:11)

We must hold fast to His voice and the presence of God. We can easily fix our eyes on the problems more than God.

The Lord wants to reminds us that as real as situations we face are, His presence is also real.

Can we continue to put our hope and trust in Him?

“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 ‭NKJV‬‬

The centre piece of this message is this verse:

“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

When Jesus says this, He is not referring to something He is giving away but His person. He is the Prince of Peace.

He has given Himself as the Person of Peace. There is such an assurance and conviction that comes from knowing this and that we are in the hands of the Lord.

We can try to be in control of everything but we are limited. Until we know that God is in charge, only then can we rest in Him.

The world can offer you peace as well. But it is often found in something temporal that fades away. We end up searching for more in the end and it’s never enough.

When we put our investment into the things of the world, it will never be enough.

“Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.””
‭‭John‬ ‭4:13-14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The living water that comes from Jesus will never run dry and always satisfies.

Even when we don’t know what’s coming next, His peace will guard our minds and He will direct our paths.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Rather than spending time in negative movies and social media, why not spend time in the Word of God?

Time in the Word of God will manifest in things improving around us, from the inside out.

Pastor Derrick’s testimony

God gave us His peace so that we won’t be in pieces. He is in control.

Peace is posture when we know He has given Himself to us. All we need to do is give ourselves to His peace.

It is never about performance but the posture of our hearts. It was what was inside Jesus that grounded Him to rest. (Mark 4:35 -40)

As believers we have that authority of Christ Jesus. The authority Jesus has, we have it to. What are we doing with the peace that He has entrusted us with?

He has given us the authority (responsibility) to use that authority to bring the Kingdom wherever we go and declaring life, peace and righteousness of Christ. That is how powerful this authority is.

We need to start taking responsibility (authority) for the things around us and start looking to Jesus as our hope, regardless of circumstances, declaring the Sovereignty and power of God.

This authority is to bring His peace for the situations around us and not for our comfort.

Worrying doesn’t bring you anywhere and robs us of our destiny.

“Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:22-28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

God has our future and we can trust Him.