2022 - ADVENT 1 - PEACE

Isaiah 40:1–11 ESV

1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 6 A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. 9 Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” 10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

One of the most hated, herded, hunted and humiliated people group’s on the earth - Jewish people, Sons and daughters of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God’s CHOSEN nation - IS PEACE POSSIBLE?

vv. 1-2 God Promises CONSOLATION - The War is OVER

vv. 3-8 God Requests His People Give CONSIDERATION of WHOM is Approaching

vv. 9-12 God gives CLARIFICATION of who is the TRUE SHEPHERD (See John 10)

Psalm 85:1–2 ESV

1 Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. 2 You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. Selah

Psalm 85:8–13 ESV

8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly. 9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. 10 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. 11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky. 12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.

vv. 1-2 - RESTORATION FORGIVENESS ATONEMENT

vv. 8-11 Before when God spoke He spoke in JUDGMENT - Now He Speaks PEACE (focus on outcome v. 10) -

When it Comes to God, Being at Peace Requires Righteousness

Faithfulness Springs from the Ground (Mankind in Saved State); Righteousness Looks Down from the Sky (Lord God)

vv. 12-13 - RESTORATION of PROMISED LAND (Israel) (Likewise the believer in the New Testament is promised a New Heaven and New Earth in eternity future)

2 Peter 3:8–15 ESV

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,

The END of the World IS COMING and GOD is at the END So:

Holiness & Godliness ARE of concern

Waiting for what is Coming - ANTICIPATION rather than Fret, Worry and endless Conspiracies

Diligence in the Meantime - Diligence in Right Living and BEING AT PEACE -

if the events of the world are causing you to fret, worry, and to fall into disaster thinking and preparation then you are SINNING.

The God of Peace demands that His People be DILIGENT to be found by Him “at peace” (v. 14)

Jesus, the Creator God According to John 1:1-2, Light of the World according to John 8:12 and Savior according to Luke 2:11 and Titus 2:3 has made you to be at PEACE WITH GOD - Why are you letting all this judgment and pandemonium upset you?

And if you are worried about the delay of Jesus’ return, CONSIDER His Delay (Patience as described in v. 15) as SALVATION -

Stop pitifully pining for the past or fretting about the future and LET GOD DO HIS WORK OF SALVATION IN THE PRESENT

John 16:33 ESV

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”