Peace in Troubling Times
Sermon by: Rev. Dr. Austin Brinkerhoff
Sermon 4.19.20
Philippians 4:4-8
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Psalm 55:22
Cast your cares on the Lord
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken
God, my Father,
I begin my prayer by asking for a blessing, not that You would bless me as I normally do, but asking that You inspire me to be a blessing to You; that You increase my passion for You, my love for You, my commitment to You, that I would do more for You than I already am so that the kingdom of this world would look a little more like the Kingdom of Heaven.
Give me Your eyes that we may see those in need, Your ears that I may hear their cries for help, Your hands, that I may reach out to them, and Your feet that I would effectively minister to the “least of these.” Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.
Now, I humbly ask for Your continued blessing upon my church family, that together, we would indeed be the body of Jesus Christ — that we would reflect to those in our immediate neighborhood and beyond, the hope, the joy, the peace, and the grace of Christ Himself. Please also add Your blessing of mercy, healing, comfort, encouragement, and peace to (3 minutes of prayer for those God puts on our hearts)
Please strengthen them in body, heart, soul, and spirit, and please remind them that no matter what happens in this life, no one and nothing can ever take them out of Your hands — hands that hold them securely for all eternity.
These things I ask in the name of my Savior and Lord, Jesus the Christ, and I pray the prayer he taught me pray:
“Our Father, Who art in heaven Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the Kingdom, the power, and the Glory Forever. Amen. ”