God Bless Us Everyone!

Advent 1: Jesus Is Our Hope

Last week: Hope - Remembering the promises and prophecies of God in regards to His First and Second Coming

Preparing ourselves to celebrate His birth and remembering the true reason for the season.

Remembering that He is coming again. Are we prepared for that?

Last week we saw how Israel’s hope appeared dead after 400 years of God being silent, but after a promise God made to Zechariah and Elizabeth, hope sprang back to life, because even though hope appeared dead, God gives life to the dead.

Advent 2: Jesus Is Our Peace

Some traditions have faith as the second week, which makes sense, because faith is what brings peace.

Faith must be based on truth.(Hebrews 11:6 )

Hebrews 11:6 NASB95

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

God is pleased when we have faith

That faith must be placed in Him because He is the truth.

God rewards those who seek Him. Seeking Him = seeking the truth.

Faith stands on the revelation, word, and promises of God.

Faith in the truth leads to peace.

Why Does Faith Lead To Peace?

Because when we trust the one we have faith in, we know we are in good hands. “You’re in Good Hands with All-State.”

Peace then is a state of mind and heart that says, “No matter what comes my way, I can rest securely in the hands of Jesus. What is out of my control is in the control of Jesus.”

John 10:27–28 (NASB95)

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

John 14:27 NIV84

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 16:33 NIV84

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

We have to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. Colossians 3:15

Colossians 3:15 NASB95

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Jesus is our Peace!

God Bless Us Everyone!

God’s blessing brings peace.

God’s blessing is Jesus

Introduction

Today we’re going to see how peace comes from God’s favor and blessings in our lives, we’ll look at the peace that Mary exhibited and finally how faith in the knowledge of God’s promises brought Mary peace.

The first 3 chapters of Luke present a back and forth between John and Jesus. And as we move through the Christmas story, we now come upon our first major comparison.

We move from the capital city of Jerusalem in the region of Judea and largest Jewish population center

To Nazareth which was a small village in the region of Galilee which was surrounded by Gentiles

Jesus is for the big cities and the little towns.

In Judea they tended to be stricter in following the laws of Moses.

Whereas in Galilee they were more lax on some of the kosher laws due to Gentile influence.

Jesus is for the Jew and the Gentile

We also go from a priestly family, which at that time carried prestige, power, and authority.

To a peasant woman betrothed to a working class carpenter.

Jesus is for the rich and the poor.

We go from an old man who was skeptical of the angel’s words.

To a young girl who had the proverbial “faith like a child”.

Jesus is for the old and the young.

And finally we go from a man who was overcome with fear at his angelic visit

to a girl whose heavenly encounter was filled with peace

God’s Blessing brings peace

Jesus is our peace.

Peace As A Result Of God’s Blessing On Our Lives vs. 26-28

Greetings - chairo is the root word for joy.

Joy is a major theme in Luke. Luke associates joy with salvation.

Favored one - the Greek word for favored one not only the impartation of God’s grace, but also the adoption into God’s family in imparting special favor.

"Rejoice, blessed one adopted into God’s family.”

This implies not just God’s pouring of grace into Mary’s life, but also a prior decision to put her faith in the coming Messiah.

This pouring out of grace is not something you can earn, nor does anyone deserve it, but it is given freely as a gift.

All we can do is accept the gift. But we have to receive it and open it. An unopened gift does us no good.

Faith is the means to receive this blessing from God.

Like grace, peace is a gift given to us. It is not something we can earn, nor do we deserve it, but God freely gives it to us.

And yet we try to find a moment of lasting peace in all the wrong places. Instead of coming to God for it and accepting it, we try to find it in all the fleeting moments of this life.

But He can’t give peace to us without first pouring out His grace upon us.

Peace That Mary Exhibited (1:29-38)

Mary does not freak out at the angel’s appearance. She was only perplexed at his statement. (1:29-30)

The angel was ready to calm her fears…Do not be afraid Mary, but it wasn’t needed.

The Lord was with her.

She had found favor with God.

She was a recipient of God’s grace.

Perplexed, but peaceful / Peaceful perplexity

The angel tells her she will be with child and to name Him Jesus (1:31-33)

But, will be called the Son of the Most High – divine sonship - a spiritual family

And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David – clear Messianic affirmation - Davidic Covenant

He will reign over the house of Jacob forever - The eternality and finality of His rightful reign - Abrahamic Covenant

Isaiah 9:6–7 (NASB95)

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

Mary does not question or ask for a sign to confirm the statement of the angel, but rather simply wants to know how it would happen (1:34).

OK. But how?

Her statement also implies:

That she expected immediate fulfillment before Joseph and Mary had their wedding ceremony,

The term “I am a virgin” is translated from “I have not known a man.” This is important because the construction of this term describes a state resultant from a past pattern of behavior. Mary has not known any man and so is a virgin.

that there were no plans to sleep with her betrothed any time in the near future, so there would be no way that it could possibly be Joseph’s child.

Side note: Matthew 1:25 tells us that Joseph kept her a virgin until after she gave birth, thus confirming the Virgin birth.

Peaceful in the face of Impossibility. / Peaceful Impossibility.

The angel, however was ready to give her a sign – her cousin Elizabeth was also pregnant…But it wasn’t needed either.(1:35-37)

Her third response? (1:38):

Behold the bondslave of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.

Humility

Acceptance

Faith

Peaceful Submission

How Faith In The Knowledge Of God’s Promises Brought Mary Peace (1:46-55)

Faith In God’s Work. (vs. 46-49)

Her soul exalts the Lord and God her Savior.

Clear indication of her faith in Yahweh.

Clear understanding of God being her Savior.

He has done great things for her. Why?

Recognizes God as her Savior - this joy comes not from her doing but because of God’s blessing of grace and peace.

recognized her lowly estate - not of means whence one could buy such a gift.

recognizes being a bondslave - no right to claim for this privilege.

She recognizes that she is blessed - what she has has been given to her.

Mary’s peace came from God’s blessing of salvation.

God’s Blessing Brings Peace

Faith In God’s Word. (vs. 50-53)

Why? Prophetic Scriptures. God promised to send the Savior, and now it is being fulfilled.

Psalm 34:2-9; Psalm 35:9; Psalm 138:6-8; Psalm 103:17 (direct quote); Psalm 98:1-3; Psalm 107:9 (direct quote)

Mary’s peace came from the truth of God’s Word that stands forever.

Faith In God’s Way Of Doing Things. “Lovingkindness”. (1:50-54)

The words mercy, humble, and help, are mentioned several times. Giving the overall sense of trust in the lovingkindness (hesed) of God.

As He looks to give grace to the outcast and downtrodden. To lift up the poor in spirit, etc. To dispense mercy.

His name is be revered as holy. His name describes His character, which is His Modus Operandi.

He is just and holy and he is merciful and kind.

Mary’s peace came from God’s lovingkindness.

God’s Faithfulness To Fulfill His Promises. (1:54-55). God remembers the covenant promise to Abraham.

Who is the ultimate fulfillment of the promises to Abraham?

Jesus

Peace is a state of mind and heart that says, “No matter what comes my way, I can rest securely in the hands of Jesus. What is out of my control is in the control of Jesus.”

Isaiah 26:3–4 ESV

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

Jesus is our Peace!