Uninterrupted Peace
Bishop Henry Fernandez Preached on 4/27/2026Galatians 5:22, Numbers 6:24-26
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43:27
Summary
Bishop Henry Fernandez teaches that true peace is an eternal Kingdom gift that cannot be found in wealth or relationships, urging believers to guard their hearts and anchor their identity in Christ alone.
Key points
- •True peace is a spiritual gift from God (the Fruit of the Spirit) rather than a reward for financial or social success.
- •External factors like jobs, money, and relationships are incapable of providing lasting peace and often threaten it when they fluctuate.
- •Peace is already a legal possession for the 'Kingdom citizen' based on God's promises in Numbers 6, but it must be actively guarded.
- •Fulfillment is found only 'in Him' (Christ), meaning individuals should strive for wholeness and peace before entering relationships to avoid unhealthy dependency.
- •The church is a gathering of imperfect people; therefore, believers must anchor their peace in God rather than the presence or absence of 'church drama.'
Scripture
Peace
Spiritual Growth
Purpose
Grace
Faith
Life application
This week, identify one external 'peace-thief' - such as financial stress or a difficult relationship - and consciously choose to anchor your emotions in God's promise of peace rather than the outcome of that situation.
Reflection questions
- In what 'wrong places' have you been searching for happiness or security lately?
- How would your daily stress level change if you truly believed that peace was already your possession as a child of God?
- Are you currently 'wearing your problems' on your face, or are you allowing God's countenance to shine through you despite your trials?
- Is there a toxic influence or a debt of unforgiveness you need to release today to reclaim your peace?
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Full transcript
0:00So, today we're going to talk about
0:02uninterrupted
0:04peace.
0:07has done that, evaluated the happiness
0:11level of Americans across different age
0:13groups.
0:15The results were both revealing and
0:17troubling.
0:19It says the younger generation
0:22reported rising anxiety
0:26despite increased access to
0:29opportunities.
0:32The middle-aged individuals
0:35tied their happiness to financial
0:37stability and success.
0:40While the older
0:42adults expressed regret
0:45that fulfillment was often pursued
0:50in the wrong places.
0:54Interesting.
0:56The younger generation
0:59developed anxiety
1:01in spite of the increased opportunities
1:04they have. You are paid more
1:07than your forefathers.
1:10Oh yes.
1:12Some of you are making a hundred
1:13thousand dollars.
1:15Your mama
1:18never made fifty thousand.
1:21Yet she sent five of you to school.
1:26Put a roof over your head.
1:29It's interesting to see what these young
1:32people get anxious
1:34over. And please, I'M NOT TRYING TO
1:36BELITTLE YOUR ANXIETY.
1:39But it's amazing.
1:41In spite of the increase in your life
1:45you know, you're anxious. The
1:47middle-aged
1:50people
1:51tied their happiness to financial
1:53stability and success. If I get more
1:55money or if I'm successful
1:59then I'm going to be happy. And then the
2:01senior ones expressed regret because
2:04they've now lived their life and they
2:06realized
2:08that they were putting
2:11their happiness
2:13in the wrong places.
2:15That's why, you know, and again, please
2:18excuse me. May- maybe because of my age
2:21uh
2:21please please don't get this wrong.
2:24Please don't get this wrong.
2:26If you ever think it's your house that's
2:29going to bring you happiness.
2:32If you ever think it's that job, it's
2:34that degree, and all the stuff you're
2:36going after.
2:38If you ever think that's what's going to
2:40make you happy, you're going to get old
2:44laying up in the bed
2:46realizing that you should have one
2:48served God wholeheartedly.
2:52And number two, go some places, travel.
2:57Lord, help me.
3:00Okay. All right, some of you looking at
3:01me like, why you preaching this to me
3:03today pastor?
3:05So, the conclusion from the survey was
3:07very clear that people
3:10are searching for happiness, but many
3:12are looking in the wrong places.
3:17So, let me be direct with you today. It
3:19is God's will for you to live in peace.
3:24Yes.
3:26It's God's will for every one of us to
3:30live in peace. However
3:33peace is not a reward for success.
3:38Peace is not a privilege for the elite.
3:41Peace is not something you must beg God
3:46for.
3:47And peace is not attached to the person
3:51you're with. I'm going to deal with that
3:54in a minute.
4:01Don't worry, I'm getting there.
4:04SO, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW THAT
4:06PEACE is a gift from God.
4:10It's a gift. Galatians 5:22.
4:13The Bible says, "But the fruit of the
4:16spirit" watch this, "Yes, it's love,
4:19it's joy, but it's also what?" Peace.
4:22Say it again.
4:23It is peace. Numbers 6 beginning at
4:28verse 24 to 26. It says, "Now this is
4:31the blessings of the Lord over the
4:33children of Israel."
4:35Verse 24 says, "THE LORD BLESS AND KEEP
4:38YOU." WAIT A MINUTE.
4:40The Lord bless
4:42you're blessed.
4:44That's
4:46the blessing that has been pronounced
4:48over you. You are blessed.
4:51The word over God's people was, "You are
4:54blessed. THE LORD BLESS AND WATCH THIS,
4:58THE LORD KEEP YOU."
5:00SO, IF YOU'RE BLESSED and you're kept,
5:03why you worried?
5:08He's not going to suffer your foot to be
5:10moved.
5:11Cuz he who keeps Israel doesn't sleep.
5:16Come on now.
5:17And then the next verse says, "The Lord
5:19make" and I love this. I love this. I
5:21love this.
5:23THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE to shine upon
5:27you." Now some of you got to really fix
5:29your face. You got to fix your face.
5:33Cuz your face is not looking like the
5:36face of God is shining on you. I
5:39understand you're going through a lot. I
5:41understand you got a lot of pressure,
5:43but you got to live in such a way that
5:45you do not allow the external things,
5:48come on now, to control what's going on
5:50on the inside.
5:52You see, some of us know how to faith
5:55it, not fake.
5:57Faith it until we make it. So, since
6:00we're faithing it, we're not going to
6:02leave our houses looking like we ain't
6:04got it, looking like we're stressed OUT
6:07BECAUSE THE FACE OF GOD is shining on
6:11us.
6:13So, when you see us walking around
6:15smiling and looking happy, it it doesn't
6:18mean we're not going through anything.
6:21Some of you would be shocked to know.
6:25Lord, help me. Don't don't leave me to
6:27preach this by myself.
6:30Some of you WOULD BE SHOCKED TO KNOW
6:32what some of us are enduring.
6:36And you COULD NEVER TELL. WHY? BECAUSE
6:39we don't wear our problems.
6:46Why? Because the the scripture says,
6:48"The Lord make HIS FACE TO SHINE upon
6:51you and be gracious unto you." Watch
6:54verse 26. It says, "And the Lord lift up
6:57his countenance upon you and do what?"
7:01And give you what?
7:02I can't really hear you. And give you
7:04what?
7:05That's better. And give you peace. This
7:08means
7:10if you are a kingdom citizen
7:12peace already belongs to you.
7:17As a child OF GOD, THE FACE OF God is
7:20shining on you. The peace of God is
7:23already given to you. So, let me share
7:26with you who is the source of true
7:30peace.
7:31Not like the survey we just told you
7:34about.
7:36Who is the real source of peace? Not
7:37your job, not people, not who you're
7:39with, and not money. Jesus made a
7:42defining statement in John chapter
7:4514:25.
7:47And here's what he's
7:48it says.
7:50It says what? Peace I leave with you.
7:54How how many of you believe Jesus was on
7:56the earth?
7:57Come on, some of you are not sure. Your
7:59hands are not
8:00All right, maybe that's why you're full
8:02of anxiety.
8:04Let me try one more time. How many of
8:06you believe that Jesus was on the earth?
8:08Okay, sounds better. All right, he says,
8:12"Peace I leave with you.
8:14My peace." Watch this now.
8:18My peace.
8:19Not the peace that comes from material
8:22things.
8:24Not the peace that comes from people or
8:27your money.
8:28But he says
8:30"Peace I leave with you. My peace I give
8:34to you. NOT AS THE WORLD gives do I give
8:38to you."
8:40So, this makes it very clear that your
8:42peace comes from God and that he is the
8:45source of your peace. God is the source
8:49of your peace. Say it with me. God is
8:51the source of my peace. Come on. God is
8:53the source of my peace. So, if he's the
8:56source of your peace
8:58then you have to embrace what is already
9:01given to you, no matter what you're
9:04going through.
9:06So, notice the distinction here.
9:09The worldly peace
9:11that the world gives is temporary.
9:15But there's a kingdom peace.
9:18There's a peace that surpasses human
9:22understand.
9:24If you If someone was to ask you, "Why
9:27you not worried?"
9:29You can't really explain it. It's beyond
9:31human comprehension.
9:35Because just like the song, I trust in
9:38God.
9:40That he will never fail me.
9:43CUZ HE'S NEVER FAILED YET.
9:46Are you hearing with me?
9:47Because the peace that the world gives
9:49is temporary and kingdom peace is
9:51eternal. Watch this. It is unshakable
9:54and uninterrupted.
9:57So, people are making uh big mistake by
10:01looking for peace
10:04in wrong places.
10:06Looking for peace in wrong places. And
10:09Jesus understood
10:11the nature of humans. You understood
10:14that we'll have a tendency to seek for
10:17peace in the wrong places. He knew we
10:20would try to find peace in our
10:23self-worth,
10:24our personal accomplishments,
10:26our financial security, our
10:29relationships,
10:31and the approval from others. We'll try
10:34to find peace in those things, right?
10:36So, let me be very clear with you. None
10:38of these things can give YOU PEACE.
10:41AND ALL OF them have the potential to
10:44threaten your peace.
10:47They can't give you peace, but they can
10:49threaten your peace.
10:52Cuz what happens
10:54if you get hit in life
10:57that causes your self-worth to drop?
11:02What happens if somebody say to you
11:05you are trash, you worth nothing?
11:09Cuz it happens.
11:10Many of you ladies are in this room,
11:12you're streaming.
11:14A man has told you you are worth
11:16nothing.
11:19He has literally robbed you of your
11:21dignity.
11:23Left you with the kids.
11:26Stripped you down to nothing.
11:30And while you're saying, "Preach it,
11:32Rev." Some of you women doing it to men,
11:35also.
11:39Degrade them.
11:41Belittle them. Disrespect them.
11:46Poison us.
11:48Where you rob them of their dignity,
11:50they've lost their manhood.
11:55And so
11:57they can't have peace.
11:59Some of you
12:01have looked for peace in your personal
12:04accomplishments. Hey.
12:07Went to school.
12:08Got the degree. You did all those
12:10things. Some of you
12:13have put 1 year's worth of emergency
12:16funds in the bank.
12:18Right?
12:191 year of your utility bills and your
12:22mortgage and your rent.
12:24AND YOU GOT YOUR JOB AND YOU'RE SAYING,
12:26"I'M AT PEACE NOW."
12:28CUZ IF SOMETHING WAS TO happen
12:31I got money
12:33in the bank.
12:35Then relationships, you know.
12:38And you think
12:40that another guy or another woman
12:44is the answer to your peace.
12:46You know, "I just want a man in my life
12:49that would bring peace."
12:51Trust me, when you find them, please let
12:53me know. I've got a lot of single
12:55sisters who are looking for men.
12:58There's not a man on the planet that can
13:00bring you peace.
13:03He can enhance your peace or subtract
13:06your peace,
13:08but he cannot give you peace. Oh,
13:11preach, boy, preach. Preach, preach,
13:13preach. Preach. You preaching good.
13:18He can't give you no peace.
13:20Are you hearing me this morning?
13:23So
13:25if your peace is controlled by your
13:26self-worth, your personal
13:28accomplishments, your financial security
13:32your relationships and the approval from
13:35people
13:36then when you don't have them
13:39then you lose your peace.
13:42Cuz you know what?
13:44Your self-worth can diminish.
13:48All those personal accomplishments, you
13:50can lose them.
13:52What happens when that 1 year of
13:54security in the bank goes away?
13:58Uh what happened when your relationship
14:00don't work?
14:02Nobody's relationship in this room and
14:04those of you are streaming is guaranteed
14:07to last for
14:09ever.
14:12And even if that man or woman is good to
14:15you
14:15keep on living, one of you going to die.
14:25Okay, they looking at me like
14:28wrong day to go to church today.
14:31Look at what Ecclesiastes chapter 2:11
14:33says.
14:34THEN I CONSIDER ALL THAT MY HANDS HAVE
14:37DONE. COME ON. I WANT TO CONFIRM WHAT I
14:39just said. I'VE CONSIDERED ALL THAT MY
14:42HANDS had done. AND BEHOLD, ALL WAS
14:46VANITY AND WHAT? A striving after wind.
14:52All these things are like the wind.
14:55It comes
14:57and it goes.
14:59So, it's important to note
15:01that guarding your peace is your
15:03responsibility.
15:05You can't give yourself peace. God is
15:08the one who gives it to you, but it's
15:10your responsibility
15:12to guard it.
15:14You must understand something here. It
15:16is your responsibility to protect your
15:19peace.
15:21Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep your heart."
15:25Keep your heart. Guard your heart.
15:26That's what it's saying. Guard your
15:28heart for from it flow the springs of
15:31life. Your your responsibility
15:34is to guard your heart, the spring of
15:37life or springs of life.
15:40Right? Whoever you allow to affect your
15:42emotions, that's really what he's
15:44talking about. Your emotions, your
15:46feelings. If you let a relationship or
15:49the lack thereof or money or the lack
15:51thereof
15:53you know, your personal achievement or
15:55the lack thereof to to gauge your peace,
15:58then you're not guarding your heart.
16:00Philippians 4:7 it says, "And the peace
16:04of God will guard your hearts
16:06and your minds
16:09in Christ Jesus." And the peace of God.
16:11So, get the peace of God, not the peace
16:14that you get from these things in life.
16:16Not the peace that you get from the
16:18world.
16:19Get the peace of God and the Bible says
16:22that peace will guard your hearts and
16:25your mind.
16:27So, if your heart is not guarded then
16:31your peace will be unstable
16:33and it will interrupt your happiness
16:37that is available to every person
16:39on the planet. Now, here's the danger
16:42with misplaced peace. Cuz you can
16:45misplace your peace.
16:49And this is what God has sent me here
16:50today to talk to some of you about.
16:53Misplaced
16:55peace.
16:57You put it in the wrong places, man.
16:59There's a danger
17:01when it comes to putting your peace in
17:04the wrong places.
17:07So, what happens when your peace is tied
17:10to a job?
17:13Well, you lose the job
17:16then you lose your peace.
17:18WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR PEACE IS TIED TO
17:21A relationship
17:23and it ends?
17:25Cuz none of us
17:27whether it's by death
17:29or whether just by being, you know,
17:32disconnected, what happens? Then your
17:35peace will collapse.
17:38And so many of you are allowing your
17:40you're Christian, you are genuinely want
17:42to serve God. It doesn't mean that
17:44you're perfect, but you honestly want to
17:46serve God. But instead of embracing the
17:49peace of God, you have allowed that
17:51relationship that you're in
17:54to gauge your peace.
17:57And so you're collapsing
17:59because it's not steady.
18:02And your faith has been shaken by it
18:06because you're not getting out of the
18:08relationship what you expected.
18:11You think it's not going anywhere.
18:13What's robbing you of your happiness?
18:16Why? Because you put your peace your
18:18peace was tied to that relationship, to
18:22that person.
18:23And I'm telling you today, you need to
18:25hear me by the spirit of God, those of
18:28you are in on campus and those of you
18:30are streaming. I am telling I'm not
18:32telling you not to believe in people.
18:34Please hear me. Do not misquote what I'm
18:37I'm telling you. You cannot live without
18:39people. It's okay. Listen, if you'd like
18:43to date, if you'd like somebody in your
18:45life, don't sugarcoat it. Don't lie,
18:47"Jesus is my husband. Jesus He's not
18:50your husband. Trust me.
18:52He's your savior.
19:03Some of you are talking trash.
19:06Stop it.
19:09If you want somebody, cry out to God.
19:11God, I need me a man in my life. I need
19:13a woman in my life. Just trust him.
19:16But do not hang your peace
19:20on that person you're dating.
19:23Don't hang your peace on that person
19:25you're married to.
19:27BECAUSE YOU KNOW, SOME OF YOU WALKED
19:29DOWN THE AISLE WITH A LOVING PERSON, a
19:32loving man, a loving woman. You remember
19:34when THE ORGAN WAS PLAYING AND YOU WERE
19:36WALKING DOWN THE AISLE. YOU WERE IN YOUR
19:38PERFECT WHITE DRESS AND HE WAS IN HIS
19:41TUXEDO. EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT.
19:43BRIDESMAIDS AND THE LITTLE FLOWER GIRLS
19:45AND MAN, IT WAS WONDERFUL. YOU REMEMBER
19:48HOW YOU WERE IN LOVE. REMEMBER THAT
19:50PERSON WAS your savior. That person was
19:54I mean God sent.
19:57How's it going now?
20:04How's it going now?
20:08Once it was here comes the bride, all
20:11dressed in white. Now it's here comes
20:15the demon.
20:16All
20:22You know some of you calling your spouse
20:24the devil, you know it.
20:26So don't look at me strange.
20:28You're calling your spouse the devil.
20:30I'm married to the devil.
20:35See if your peace is tied to your
20:36relationship when it ends it's going to
20:38collapse.
20:40If it's tied to your money, money
20:42fluctuates.
20:44Therefore your peace will fluctuate.
20:46And watch this now, if it's tied to
20:48church empty.
20:51What happened when drama's in the
20:53church?
20:55And can I just tell See this is where
20:57we've gotten it wrong.
20:59I don't know what Bible you're reading
21:00some of you well well you know well you
21:03know especially those of us who are
21:04seasoned Christians when there's drama
21:06in church.
21:08We're ready to just turn our back and
21:10God we're ready to log out the church
21:13we're ready to cast every Christian as
21:16you know the devil and this stuff don't
21:18work and so forth. Where in the Bible it
21:21tells you that God's church is perfect.
21:28Come on let's if you really want to be a
21:31student of the word.
21:34Even when Jesus was on the planet
21:36didn't you see many times he had to
21:39kind of scold his church?
21:42At one point he called them white white
21:44washed sepulchers.
21:47In other words on the outside
21:50you look like you're clean.
21:54But on the inside you're dead, you're
21:56dirty.
21:58But he never turned his back on the
22:00church.
22:04>> [applause]
22:06>> We Christians we need to do a better job
22:09in protecting the church
22:11from the unchurched.
22:15Just like at your workplace there is
22:18drama.
22:20All kinds of stuff happen at your
22:21workplace.
22:23In your there's not a person here can
22:25tell me there's nobody in your family
22:28you wish you could disown.
22:35Come on now.
22:37If I give you the microphone right now
22:38you can call out every uncle auntie
22:42cousin
22:44who you wish
22:46you weren't tied to by blood.
22:48There's always drama.
22:50There's drama in politics.
22:52There's drama in your community.
22:55There's drama everywhere that
22:57Why do we think when it comes to church
23:00where did we understand it that as
23:01church people we must the moment we get
23:04saved
23:05then when we come to the house of God
23:08there should be no drama. Yes we should
23:11live holy we should walk in
23:12righteousness that what the the
23:14scripture says.
23:16But we're human beings where in the
23:18scripture it tells us that a church a
23:22church the body of people you're going
23:25to come and there should never be any
23:28drama.
23:29No backbiting
23:31no betrayal
23:33no stealing
23:36none of these things. Where did where
23:38did the Bible tell you that?
23:40Am I giving an excuse for these things?
23:42No. But when you see drama in the church
23:47when you see church split
23:50for example.
23:52Why do we get all bent out of shape and
23:54take sides?
23:56Who are you worshiping?
24:01>> [applause]
24:04>> WHO ARE WHO'S YOUR GOD?
24:06The preacher or him?
24:11And then all these things shouldn't be
24:13happening in the church. Are you reading
24:15your Bible?
24:17Do you remember one time in the Bible
24:18they even asked Jesus
24:20you you you you know and kind of
24:21debating and said one is of Apollos one
24:24is of Paul one is of this. It's always
24:26it's always division in church.
24:29You know why? Because we have divided
24:30minds.
24:34I promise you if I ask all of you to
24:36hold hands together right now for prayer
24:38somebody in your row going to be acting
24:40funny. I'm not going to hold nobody's
24:41hand.
24:45We're free agent we got we got our own
24:47personal attitude.
24:49And where ever people gather
24:52you're going to have drama.
24:55So if your peace is tied to a perfect
24:59church
25:03so when something happens in the church
25:06there goes your peace.
25:08Some of you have walked out of the will
25:10of God because you let church drama pull
25:12you out of your the place where God
25:14planted you.
25:19First Timothy 6:17 to verse 19. I want
25:23to read this because this is man I I I
25:25told the people Wednesday night I was so
25:27full of this sermon.
25:29I completed it.
25:31I think it was on Tuesday and
25:34let me tell you something man I this
25:37when I was putting the sermon together
25:39and this scripture came to me.
25:42Here's what it says. Could you Could
25:45could could you put it's on the screen.
25:48Watch this. Command those who are rich
25:51in in this present world not to be
25:53arrogant nor to put their hope in their
25:55wealth.
25:56Don't you put your trust in your money.
26:01There's a reason why God gave you the
26:02money.
26:04There's a reason why God gave you the
26:06money. When just because you got a whole
26:08lot of money do you see there people
26:10with millions and billions of dollars
26:12they are not happy.
26:14AND I'M NOT TELLING YOU NOT TO ASK for
26:16more MONEY CUZ GOD KNOWS IF SOME OF US
26:19had a little bit more money
26:22we could do a lot more things but don't
26:24YOU EVER FOR ONE MOMENT THINK more money
26:28would give you peace.
26:32Don't you ever for one moment.
26:34I was sitting on a flight going to
26:36London one time and a guy was sitting
26:38next to me and honestly I was very
26:41exhausted tired I was going to preach
26:43the next day and uh the guy was just
26:46talking talking talking. You have you've
26:47been on a flight?
26:49You just
26:51don't want to talk to nobody. And he
26:53just kept talking telling me about his
26:55life and and you know and asking me
26:57questions and and you know he was what
27:00do you do and I evaded the
27:03the question I didn't want to tell him
27:04cuz usually when you tell people you're
27:06a preacher you're a pastor oh God there
27:07it goes.
27:08And and and he just start talking all
27:10kinds of stuff and you could tell the
27:13guy was wealthy in what he owned and
27:15listen he he had plenty money.
27:18Plenty money.
27:20And he was talking and he was talking
27:22and um you know so I happened to start
27:25talking to him about God.
27:28And he just straight up I don't believe
27:31in God.
27:32I don't think there's a God. I'm an
27:34atheist and start talking all kinds of
27:36trash.
27:38And I'm thinking to myself here's a guy
27:40with a lot of money
27:42and and he doesn't believe in God.
27:45What's the reason he he probably don't
27:47have a reason to believe in God.
27:50And God listen
27:52you keep trusting in your money.
27:55God will make something happen to shake
27:58the foundation you standing on man. See
28:01all that money?
28:03We were traveling and all of a sudden
28:05the flight hit turbulence.
28:10Let me tell you something that plane
28:12dropped
28:14and start shaking. And I would not lie
28:17on God's stage today the man grabbed the
28:20hold of my hand and the only thing came
28:23out of his MOUTH JESUS.
28:26NO SERIOUSLY.
28:30Watch this.
28:31God gave me an opportunity
28:34to prove his word now.
28:37Cuz I turned to the man and said wait a
28:39minute you just told me you don't
28:41BELIEVE IN GOD. WHY DID YOU CALL ON THE
28:45NAME OF JESUS and not your wealth and
28:48not YOUR FAME AND NOT YOUR DEGREE
28:51because there's only one name.
28:54Oh don't leave ME HERE BY MYSELF.
28:57THERE'S ONLY ONE NAME ABOVE EVERY NAME
29:01AND THAT'S THE NAME OF JESUS.
29:06>> [cheering]
29:07>> ONLY ONE NAME.
29:10That man shouted Jesus.
29:15So the Bible says
29:18switch is so uncertain
29:21but to put their hope in God
29:23who richly provides us with everything
29:27for our what? Enjoyment. He said command
29:31them to do good. So when you got money
29:33your job is to do good to be rich in
29:35good deeds to be rich. So when God gives
29:38you money he gives you money to sow
29:42and to be generous and to be willing to
29:45share. Verse 19 says, "In this way, they
29:49will lay up treasures for themselves as
29:52a firm foundation for the coming age so
29:56that they may take hold of the life that
30:01is truly what?"
30:07That's why many people today feel empty.
30:12Cuz you're putting your peace
30:14in the natural resources, your money,
30:16your wealth,
30:18people, your successes.
30:20That's why people feel frustrated today
30:23because that's where your dependency is
30:26on. You're depressed. Do you know how
30:28many people are walking around
30:30depressed?
30:33Depressed because your peace is gauged
30:36by what you possess.
30:38Your peace is gauged by your environment
30:41being disrupted.
30:45Okay.
30:48They laid you off on the job.
30:51Who gave you that job?
30:55So, you're telling me he can't find you
30:57even a better one?
31:02Okay. You've lost your peace and now
31:04you're depressed
31:06because you've had some losses. You
31:09know, you saved up the money and your
31:10bank account IS PRETTY MUCH EMPTY.
31:14AND
31:15you're going to let because you don't
31:17have it
31:19cause you to walk around
31:21depressed,
31:23stressed out, losing your hair,
31:28have to now go to doctors
31:31to put
31:33some medicines in your body
31:36that's not even good for you because
31:37it's not a physical thing, it's a
31:40spiritual mental thing.
31:44>> [applause]
31:45>> Some of you
31:47are feeling unworthy today. Unworthy
31:51cuz you've been dropped.
31:54You've been dropped.
31:56Yes.
31:58Life has dropped you.
32:00Hope.
32:01You put hope in certain things
32:03and you're feeling unworthy today.
32:06It's your second failed marriage.
32:10It's the fourth person you thought was
32:12going to engage to you.
32:15So, YOU'VE LOST HOPE.
32:18YOU'RE TIRED OF WORKING. IT'S BEEN YEARS
32:20YOU'RE TRYING TO GET out of debt and
32:22it's just NOT WORKING
32:25TO THE POINT WHERE SOME OF YOU ARE
32:27feeling suicidal.
32:31And people WILL NEVER KNOW.
32:34YOU'RE SITTING IN THIS ROOM WITH NICE
32:36CLOTHES ON. YOU'RE STREAMING AND YOU'RE
32:38LOOKING WONDERFUL, BUT NOBODY KNOWS
32:43YOU ARE one
32:45thought away
32:48from committing suicide.
32:52Think about that.
32:54You've allowed temporary things
32:57to define your permanent peace.
33:01So, let me give you a strong warning
33:03about relationships and identity today.
33:06Do not wait for a relationship or a
33:10perfect relationship to give you peace.
33:14Don't you do that.
33:15Colossians 2:10 says, "And you
33:19have been filled in him."
33:22In him.
33:24You don't get fulfillment from people,
33:26money,
33:28from society.
33:30It's in him you get fulfillment. So,
33:32please do not wait. Please don't wait
33:36for you to be in that perfect
33:38relationship to be happy.
33:42You should strive to possess peace
33:45before entering into any relationship.
33:48Ensuring that you are not dependent on
33:51your fiance to provide that peace.
33:55You bring peace to the table.
33:58And then don't let anybody take it from
34:01you.
34:02If they found you in peace and they're
34:05disrupting your peace, tell them hit the
34:08road.
34:13No, that's say HIT THE ROAD, JACK.
34:17DON'T YOU COME BACK.
34:19NO MORE, NO MORE, NO MORE.
34:28Don't do that.
34:30Please don't do that.
34:32>> [laughter]
34:34>> So, it is not wise for you to wait
34:38until you get married to find happiness
34:40and peace.
34:43That is a very dangerous approach
34:45towards life. Don't you do that.
34:49If you depend on your spouse for your
34:51happiness or your peace,
34:53then during the ups and downs of
34:55marriage
34:57or in the unfortunate event of divorce,
35:01then you risk losing your peace
35:03altogether.
35:05Don't.
35:06I pray your marriage would last.
35:10What if it doesn't?
35:12Then you're going to lose it?
35:14And I don't want to belittle those of
35:15you who are going through a divorce
35:17right now. It's painful. I get it.
35:21It's painful.
35:23But why would you want
35:26to hold on
35:28to somebody
35:30who don't want you?
35:45Look to your neighbor and say hit the
35:46road Jack.
35:49No, don't. Don't you I command you to
35:51stop that.
35:53I command you to stop that.
35:57IF YOU'RE WAITING UNTIL YOU HAVE funds
36:00to make a six or seven-figure salary to
36:03have peace,
36:05then your peace will be temporary.
36:08Don't forget no job is guaranteed.
36:11If your happiness and your peace is tied
36:13to your job,
36:14you risk losing both the moment your job
36:18is gone.
36:20So, if you're not
36:23complete
36:24and have peace in your relationship,
36:26then you'll become dependent on that
36:29relationship, on that money, and so
36:31forth. So, let me leave you with this.
36:33Here are five kingdom principles for
36:36possessing peace. This is important.
36:38This is going to save some of you. This
36:40is going to help you through life. You
36:42need to write these things down. You
36:44need to take your phone, take a picture
36:46of what's going to be on the screen cuz
36:47I'm telling you this is important. Maybe
36:50you're at peace right now, but something
36:51will threaten your peace in the future.
36:55Five kingdom principles for possessing
36:57peace. Number one, embrace God's peace.
37:00Only his peace.
37:02Scripture tells us great peace have
37:04those who love your law. Nothing can
37:07make them stumble. Numbers 6 and verse
37:11uh 24 to 26. I repeat I I said that
37:14earlier. I won't even go over that
37:16again. So, embrace God's peace, not
37:19peace that comes from anything else.
37:20Number two,
37:22let nothing move you.
37:27Let nothing.
37:29I hate to tell some of you in 3 months,
37:32in 6 months, in 1 year, you're going to
37:35get hit.
37:37I wish I could could stand on this
37:39pulpit and lie to you. You're going to
37:41live happily ever after. You're a
37:44Christian. You're born again. There's
37:45not going to be any drama in your life.
37:48Your health is going to be perfect. Your
37:50relationship's going to be perfect.
37:52Everything's going to be great about you
37:54and you will never have to worry
37:55anymore. Any preacher who keep
37:58prophesying and telling you is just
38:00hyping you up.
38:03Many are the afflictions
38:06of the righteous.
38:08But the Bible says God will deliver you
38:10out of them all. So, let nothing move
38:12you. It says be steadfast, immovable,
38:14always abounding in the work of the
38:16Lord. And then it says peace requires
38:19stability. That's what that verse is
38:21saying. Number three, practice
38:23contentment in every season.
38:27This is the big one, man.
38:30Paul said in Philippians 4:11 and 12, I
38:33paraphrase it, "I have learned to be
38:37content."
38:40Be content.
38:42You got a dollar,
38:43spend it wisely.
38:45Be content.
38:47You're in a dry season, be content. Do
38:49not let seasons
38:51gauge the temperature of your peace.
38:55Hebrews 13:5 says, "Be content with what
38:57you have." That's in the Bible.
39:01Be content with what you have. Be
39:02content in your single state stage.
39:06Cuz when you get married, I'm telling
39:08you marriage is no easy thing.
39:13Some of you just all you see is the
39:15white dress, the cake,
39:18friend
39:22to show everybody.
39:25Come on now. That's all you see. Some of
39:28you men, all you see is the curves.
39:34Come on now.
39:35So, you're rushing to get married
39:38because you see the curves and because
39:40you're a Christian, you just don't want
39:42to fornicate.
39:45So, you just marry
39:47just to get the license to have sex.
39:51But, marriage is more than dress, ring,
39:54and sex.
39:58Cuz that woman will change on you in a
40:03heartbeat. That man will change on you.
40:08The older they get
40:17And all the married people say
40:25Number four.
40:28I'm not looking over in that side. I'm
40:29looking
40:30straight.
40:33Forgive and what? Release.
40:39Just forgive.
40:40Ecclesiastes, excuse me, Ephesians 4:31
40:43and 32 says, "Let all bitterness be put
40:46away.
40:47Forgiving one another."
40:50Cuz unforgiveness is that thief of
40:52peace.
40:54You got to learn to forgive, man. Some
40:56of you, why are you still bitter
41:00over something that happened 5 years
41:03ago?
41:0510 years ago?
41:076 months? You're still bitter. Every
41:10conversation, people will know the
41:12moment they call you, they know you're
41:14not going to end the conversation
41:17until you bring it up. Some people, when
41:20you call and they see your number,
41:22they're not answering because they know
41:26you are full of drama.
41:31You're bitter.
41:32LET IT GO.
41:35SOME OF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET THE
41:37MONEY
41:38THAT YOU LOANED. YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO
41:39GET IT BACK.
41:45You loaned it in good faith.
41:48And now they're acting like they don't
41:49even know you.
41:52It's gone.
41:55Just let it go.
41:58Let it go.
42:01Number five.
42:04Eliminate toxic influences.
42:10I end with this.
42:13Make no friends with a man
42:16given to anger.
42:18Nor go with a what?
42:22Wrathful man.
42:26Lest you learn his ways. Proverbs 22.
42:30Don't hang out with these people because
42:31what? You will learn their ways.
42:35It's right there.
42:37You learn his ways.
42:39And entangle yourself
42:42in their trap.
42:44Birds of a feather
42:51So, if a person is toxic and you keep
42:53hanging around them
42:55It's only a matter of time.
42:58You'll become toxic yourself. So, do not
43:00be unequally yoked, the scripture says.
43:03Cuz what does partnership
43:06has righteousness with unlawfulness
43:09or lawlessness, if you will.
43:13I want to just encourage you today to
43:15take a moment,
43:16reset your thinking,
43:18reclaim your peace,
43:21realign your life
43:23with God's promises. Bow your heads with
43:25me, please. If you could just hang in
43:26there.