Sermon Series: “Let The Perfect Peace of Jesus Christ Rule Your Life!”

August 25, 2024

Sermon Part 1: “Your Heart Must Remain Open To Let The World Read All About Jesus Christ!”

Good Morning and Praise the Lord Saints of the Most-High God!

Introduction:
Welcome to this brand new Series entitled, “Let the Perfect Peace of Jesus Christ Rule Your Life!” The Perfect Peace of Christ ruling in the life of a born-again Christian, brings about manifold manifestations of the blessings of God that are too many to count with precision. Also, very important, the Perfect Peace of Christ plays a vital role in the people of the world seeing the life of Jesus Christ lived through the born-again Christian to draw them to the Lord.

In other words, our lives as born-again Christians are to serve as “living witnesses” to the people of the world that Jesus Christ abides in us, and that He is calling them to receive God’s Salvation. The Perfect Peace of Christ is given to us as an anchor of hope and patience while we run this Christian race, and brings forth an abundance of fruit (souls) to the Lord.

To start this Series, I want to lay a very important foundation. For some of you this Sermon may serve as a refresher, and for others an initial instruction. The Message is relatively short but very powerful in its working, it’s called: “Your Heart Must Remain Open to Let the World Read All About Jesus Christ!”

Growing up in the Pentecostal Church, there was a song we use to sing, and part of it went like this: “Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before. Every day with Jesus I love Him more and more. Yes, every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before.”

I assure you, if you completely open and yield your heart to Jesus Christ to live through you, the people of the world will see the “love and sweetness” of Christ in you. Praise God, not just people but the whole earth; animals, nature, and material things will see and bow down to Christ in you.

Yes, even material things such as houses, lands, and money, and other resources will be attracted and drawn to you. The Bible says the wealth of the wicked is laid up for the just, as money cries out for the righteous, and eventually finds its way into their hands. (Prov.13:22 & James 5:4) This is because all things were created by and for Jesus Christ. Everything created consist of Jesus and without Him nothing would exist. (Col.1:16-17) The Peace of Jesus Christ causes everything to humble itself unto Christ who abides in you, and you in Him! (John 15:5 & Php. 2:10) Since God our Father freely has given to us Jesus Christ, how shall He not also freely with Him give to us all things? (Rom. 8:32)

Now Saints, you must understand that God has a divine purpose for having you live in the earth for such a time as this. God recreated you in Jesus Christ to do “good works.” God-good works that were anointed and commissioned to be carried out by you before the world was founded. See Ephesians 2:10:

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Throughout your Christian journey, God has and will divinely place you in the pathway of many people to observe your manner of living and to see your good works. Just like Jesus Christ came into the world and was anointed with the Holy Ghost and power and went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil for God was with Him; God is with you also to accomplish the same good works and greater works. (Acts 10:38 & John 14:12)

These good works, both small and large, natural and supernatural in context have their origin in God in Christ Jesus, and have been deposited in your born-again heart to accomplish, by the teaching and leading of the Holy Ghost. For example, whether it’s being prompted by the Holy Ghost to offer to take out the trash for an elderly neighbor; or being prompted to allow another person to go before you in the grocery store and pay for their groceries; or having an unction to lay hands on a person with a form of cancer to receive their healing; or prophetically giving a word of knowledge or wisdom before a Church assembly that changes the course of the lives of the Saints for their betterment; these good works are all ordained by God before the world began for us to do as the Spirit of God wills.

As you live the Christian life, the people of the world are observing and making assessments regarding the manner in which you live. They are beholding your character, behavior, conversation, the places you go and the things you do. Many people either through observation, or because you or someone else has told them you are a born-again Christian, are looking to see whether you are living out what you profess to be. They want to see whether you are “the real deal.”

There are millions of people in the world who are skeptics, critics, doubters, and unbelievers about Jesus Christ and the Bible. And, how we live before them plays a vital role in whether they ultimately come to believe in Jesus Christ and receive God’s Salvation. Not only are the unsaved people of the world watching us, but also fellow Christians are observing how we are living the Christian life before the Lord.

God has divinely positioned each of us within the body of Christ, as well as in this Ministry. One of the reasons for assembling ourselves together is to keep watch over one another. We are to observe each other’s walk in the beauty of Holiness (God’s Morality, Word of God); not for the purpose of rendering criticisms and judgments but to love, pray, strengthen, and support each other as we see the Day of the Lord approaching. This is a New Covenant Commandment that we have of God. (Heb.10:24-25)

Furthermore, Jesus Christ said to Peter and it is also applicable to every disciple of Christ. That when we are converted, we are to “strengthen our brothers;” for the enemy Satan only seeks to destroy the testimony of Christ Jesus in us. (Luke 22:31-32) Among the ways in which we strengthen each other is through fervent prayer for one another, as well as sharing “words of encouragement.” So at this time please turn to your neighbor, and say “neighbor,

*I’m watching how you live for your good.
*Not to judge or discourage you, but only to encourage you.
*Neighbor, your life is a source of strength and inspiration to me because, by faith, I can see Jesus Christ in you and living through you.
*So keep your heart open and yielded unto God so that at all times everyone can see Jesus Christ living through you.

Isn’t this a beautiful way to encourage and build each other up? Our Churches, as well as born-again Christians individually, throughout the United States and around the world would be filled with so much more love, power, responsibility, and accountability if this became the kind of earnest and heart-filled encouragement we continually rendered to each other. Let’s make this our practice in this Ministry.

“Christ” on Full Display in Your Life Is My Goal

Here at Exousia Ministries, Inc., as well as all other Churches and Ministries who name Jesus Christ as Lord; we are (or at least we all should be) in the business of producing “CHRIST” in people. As Pastor, I only want to labor with Jesus Christ to see to it that every person membered to this Ministry has the Light of Christ shining brightly through them into the world. Most of the teachings that I do are intended to help you discover and experience the Spirit of the Life and Mind of Jesus Christ in you. Jesus instructed us to come and take hold of His yoke and to “learn” of Him, because His yoke is easy and burdens are light. (Matt.11:29-30) Thus, we should strive to learn all we can about “Christ” in us the hope of glory.

Jesus Commanded…, Let your light so shine before men, that they may [see your good works,] and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matt. 5:16) From the Lord’s Commandment, we can glean that perhaps many-to-most of the people God will place in our pathway will be influenced and won to Jesus Christ from observing our “good works.” It may take a short or long period of observation of our good works before people can clearly hear the call of Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, and glorify our Father God in Heaven.

For many people in the world it’s not enough to just hear us talk about Christianity and the gospel, but they must see us “walk out, what we talk about.” As such, God expects our way of “living” to serve as a testimony, commendation, and trophy in recognition of Jesus Christ. Glory be to God! We are to be a living sacrifice unto Jesus. (Romans 12:1) Our lives are to be laid down so Jesus can live through us.

While preparing this Sermon, God said to me, “Darryl your [life] should be on display before the world like a beautiful painting in a museum. You are the picture frame and Jesus Christ is the subject of the portrait. As people walk by and engage with you (see the painting) they should only see Jesus Christ.”

Whether in life or death, my desire is when people talk about me and remember me, I want them only to talk about how Jesus Christ lived through me to bring glory to God! I want people to conclude from being around me that Christ’s Light shined brightly through me, and delivered through me “His Message” to the world. This also is my holy ambition towards each of you. That Christ may shine brightly through you into the world, and bring His Message to people through your life.

Jesus Christ Has Completely Changed Your Life

Now, we must also understand that our relationship with the Lord is progressive and expansive over our life-time on earth. We start our walk with the Lord as spiritual babies in Christ, and over time in being nurtured and admonished in the Word of God, we grow into mature seasoned Saints able to digest the deeper things of God and live in them. (I Pet. 2: 2-4 & Heb. 5:14) Each day as we open and yield our hearts completely to Jesus, over time we lose all selfish-interest, ambition, and personal identity; and become transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

When you look back over your Christian experience, since the day you were born-gain, you can see how God in Christ Jesus has changed your life. God has brought you from a mighty long way! You can see the progress Jesus has made in you; to live through you. You look more and more like what the Bible says about you.

Dear Saints, it’s not you doing the work. No, no, no Jesus Christ is doing this “good work” in you, and I guarantee you, He will continue to do it until His return! See Philippians 1:6:

Being confident of this very thing, that He who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the Day of Jesus Christ

The God-good work that Jesus is doing in you, and through you are as I said before, the good works ordained by God before the world began. God wants you to be confident of this. God is at work in you! God wants you to be certain that He is going to “perfect everything” that concerns your life! Your Heart has already been made perfect, and God is also going to perfect your Character, Behavior, Performance, Resources, Finances, Health, Family–everything that concerns you! Psalm 138:8 says:

The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

Glory to God, this is the progressive nature of our relationship with God in Christ Jesus and God’s Salvation. As you draw nearer to God, God draws nearer to you, and the more good works Jesus performs through you. With Jesus Christ, things just keep getting sweeter and sweeter; better and better!

While we are growing in Christ and doing the good works of God, both sinners and the Saints are reading what we commonly refer to in Christian Circles as the “book of our lives.” In many cases, people who have been around our lives for any length of time can see the changes from the bad and ugly, to the pure and holy. So as people read and examine the book of our lives, they can see what Jesus has accomplished through us.

Most importantly, as people (family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, strangers, and fellow-Christians) view our lives, they receive the “Message of Christ.” Yes, our lives deliver the Message of Christ to sinners and Saints. People may not always tell you about the Message they receive from Christ, but believe me they receive it.

Whether you have the opportunity to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ directly to people or not, when your heart is open and yielded to Christ; folks can “see” that there is something different, unique, peculiar, and irresistible about you. (I Pet. 2:9) So much so, that they are drawn to know more about you; to know what makes you tick! Over time, your holy character, behavior, and performance provides the evidence that Jesus Christ abides in you! So as the lead picture in the Sermon today states: “Remember, You May Be The Only Bible That Others Read.”

In these last days when many people in the world do not know Jesus Christ, and ungodliness and lawlessness has filled the world, I would say it this way: “Remember You Will Be The Only Bible That Many People Read!”
To this end, God has placed in the hearts of every born-again Christian a magnificent gift called the “Epistle of Christ” for each of us to live out before all people. God has completely changed your life and given to you the Spirit of the Life and Mind of Jesus Christ. (II Cor. 5:17)

You are “The Living Epistle of Christ!”

One of the great things God has afforded to Church leadership is the responsibility to build (edify) the body of Christ. (Eph. 4:10-16) Church leaders are to teach and set the example of providing moral and spiritual encouragement to its church members, so that the Spirit of encouragement might permeate throughout the whole Church. We took the time this morning to encourage one another, and now I want to personally commend you. At I Thessalonians 5:11 the Apostle Paul wrote: 

Wherefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

So I want to commend the display of Jesus Christ in each one of your lives. I get great joy when I observe the progress of holiness in you. I observe Christ in you during devotionals, prayer, in fellowship with one another, as you preach during Speaker Series, as well as your receptivity and response to the Word of God we preach. Truly God is doing a mighty work in your lives, and I rejoice with you forevermore.

But also, I see the need to teach and enrich within you a much deeper knowledge and understanding of the “Epistle of Christ” abiding in you. As born-again Christians, we are “Living Epistles of Christ” read by all people. Check out what the Apostle Paul wrote at II Corinthians 3:1-3. Paul wrote:

Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?

Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

Please pay special attention to Verse 3. I think many times we have misread or overlooked Paul’s words here. Paul stated:

“YE ARE MANIFESTLY DECLARED TO BE THE EPISTLE OF CHRIST…”
Many people in Christian Circles have quoted this Passage of Scripture only as we are, “Living Epistles read of men.” While correct, it is also incomplete, and as a result many Christians have missed the deeper meaning of what Paul is communicating to the Church. In Verse 3, Paul states that we are the “Epistle of Christ.” We are not just Living Epistles, but “Living Epistles of Christ.”

I believe Verse 3 can be expressed this way without disturbing its meaning.

“THE EPISTLE OF CHRIST” IS WRITTEN IN OUR HEARTS BY THE HOLY GHOST, AND SHALL BE MANIFESTED THROUGH US.

You need to personalize this. Place your name in the above saying and let the Holy Ghost witness the truth about Christ in you. The Epistle of Christ is written in “my” heart by the Holy Ghost and shall be manifested through me!

As part of our New Covenant with God in Christ Jesus, the “Epistle of Christ” has been established in every born-again Christian’s heart and written on the soul. (Heb.10:12-16)  The term ‘epistle’ is derived from the Greek word ‘epistole’ meaning letter or written message. In the early days of the Church of Jesus Christ an epistle was the primary means of communication. The epistle was meant to be read, and in it, conveyed a Message to the reader.

In this Passage of Scripture, the Apostle Paul reminds us that the life of the born-again Christian is the Letter and Message of Christ to the people of the world. Paul is telling us that the Life of Jesus Christ abides in us. Established in our hearts and written on our souls is the Life of Jesus Christ as He ministered as the Son of Man, His death, burial, and resurrection from the dead on the third-day, and ascension and seating at the right-hand throne of God the Father. The Holy Ghost is the faithful witness of it all!

In many of Paul’s writings to the early Churches He emphasized the revelation of our born-again experience; that the “Life of Jesus Christ abides in our hearts. For example see Colossians 3:3-4. Note what He wrote:

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

See Colossians 1:26-27

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Also, see II Corinthians 13:5

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

In your born-again heart is the Spirit of the Life and Mind of Jesus Christ. Everything Jesus preached and the good works He performed while on earth is in you. Everything that God has bestowed upon Jesus Christ while seated at the right-hand of God has been placed in you. As the Scripture says, as Jesus Christ is, so are we in this world. (I John 4:17) Greater is Jesus in us than he (the wicked one) is in the world. (I John 4:4)

Yes, everything about the life of Jesus Christ has been established in your spirit and written on your soul! And, we are the “living” Epistles of Christ that God has declared are to be “manifested” in the world, so that people can observe our lives and see Jesus in all that we say and do!

Further, Paul teaches that our hearts are God’s tablets that He used to inscribe the Epistle of Christ. Praise God, while in the Old Testament, we see that the Ten Commandments were written by the finger of God on tablets of stones and given to Moses. Through the finished works of Jesus Christ on the cross, God has established the Epistle of Christ in our hearts and written it on our soul. Meaning that the Letter and Message of Jesus Christ is eternal within us. The Epistle of Christ can never be changed or stolen from us.

Even when you search your own heart, you can read the Epistle of Christ for yourself. Glory be to God! The Message is clear and is the same within us all! And, the Master’s Message can be verbally shared by you with everyone. But most importantly, as you open your heart and yield to Jesus, He lives His Epistle through you for people to read and receive the Lord’s Message.

The Prophet Ezekiel foresaw and wrote about the day when God would write His Word in our hearts. Ezekiel wrote:
And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God. (Ezekiel 11:19-20)

On the Day of Pentecost this Scripture was fulfilled and ever since; anyone who repents of their sins, and receives Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord with water baptism, receives the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38) The Holy Ghost, the Third Person of the Godhead, establishes the law of God in our hearts and writes it on our souls. Our hearts have been made to know and obey God’s laws, statutes, commandments, including having complete knowledge of the Epistle of Christ.

When we open our hearts and yield completely to Jesus, the Holy Ghost, who knows the Life and Mind of Jesus Christ teaches us how to live the life of Christ from inside out. Such that we live in God’s Morality before all people in the world. We strive to live by every Word of God.

So like Jesus Christ, we only see the world as God sees it, and do as we see our heavenly Father do. Though while in His earthly ministry, Jesus Christ never authored a book of the Bible. He gave the disciples this testimony of His life and relationship with His Father God in Heaven, recorded in the Apostle John’s Gospel.
John 12:49

For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

John 5:19-20

Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 

For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.

This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it’s out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God’s glory. It’s that simple. That is the substance of our Message. We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less. That’s what I’m working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generously gives me.