Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• v19-21
• Days of rejoicing - a baptism and a wedding
• My heart wants to continue in the theme of rejoicing
• Compelled to preach on v19-21
• Not an easy text to preach on - a difficult text to preach on
• Quote from Solomon
• He knew that human beings rarely face their mortality
• Eat, drink and be merry
• People need to consider their eternal soul and a funeral does that
• Do people really believe they are sinners?
• Unless we speak on texts like this - how will people know they are sinners?
• Consider what it means to be restless, sins of the human heart, the verdict God gives
• Overview:
• The reasons for no peace
• The verdict
• The way of peace

The reasons for no peace

• Sin - examples
• Envy, discontent:
• This brings a troubled heart
• It can bring spite
• It can eat away at people
• The soul is restless
• They may wish the downfall of others
• Example of King Saul
• God has appointed all things for us - He is sovereign over all our life
• We are content
• We may be given some trials to refine us
• Certain sins may take hold of us
• Greed:
• The waters stirring up the mire and dirt (v20)
• Think of the very rich profiting at the expense of the poor
• The poor can also be greedy
• Example of King Ahab
• Are we restless?
• Example of CEO of betting company
• Anger:
• Are you angry at others, the world, yourself?
• We are not talking about righteousness anger
• Anger leads to bitterness
• Today we need anger management courses
• The real need is for the heart to be dealt with
• The real needs is for forgiveness of sin
• Example of Cain
• Lust:
• Inner turmoil
• Depression and sadness often accompanying it
• Sexual
• Food
• Pleasures
• The cravings are never satisfied
• Example of the Samaritan woman
• Only Jesus can satisfy
• Selfish Ambition:
• Are you pushing ahead?
• Are others heart in the process?
• It can be found in the church
• The wicked are like the restless sea
• Isa 59 - a foretaste of Romans 3
• It describes the human condition at its worse state
• v3-8
• Example of knife crime in London, gang culture, domestic violence
• Wickedness is on every hand but we have God's restraining grace
• When that restraining hand is removed - terrible things happen
• Not just open rebellion
• Secret sins
• God says there are only two camps - the wicked and the righteous
• Each person who has turned away from God, not repented of the sin - in God's eyes are wicked
• Those who have trusted in Jesus Christ are considered righteous by God - they are clothed in the righteousness of Christ

The verdict

• "There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked" - v21
• God makes this declaration twice
• v21
• Isa 48:22
• No reconciliation or pardon but condemnation
• God will not be indifferent about sin
• All sin is deeply offensive and contrary to what God is
• God's anger is a settled anger
• God's wrath is revealed from heaven
• There is no peace of the wicked
• God knows the heart
• The wicked may prosper, but they will never know peace

The way of peace

• The solution - in Jesus Christ there is peace (v19)
• A prophecy
• God makes peace between sinners and Himself
• God sent Jesus Christ to make peace between God and man
• Jesus has come to lay down His life on a cruel cross
• Jesus has come to make peace between those who repent and God
• Jesus invites all to come to Him
• He offers His peace
• He is the Prince of Peace
• He protects us in the palm of His hand
• Do you know the peace of God?

Closing Remarks