Advent: Peace

Luke 2:8-14

Recap advent Hope, Faith, Joy and Peace

Thank Caleb for a great job.

Luke 2:14 NKJV

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Peace.... As a father of 5 what is peace?!

Candace and I cant carry on a conversation without being interrupted… can I get an amen!

2 of our children are 5:30-6:00 am wake up!

Peace… What is that?!

But they angels proclaimed “Peace of earth!”

Peace was promised before this!

One of the prophecies about His birth speaks of His peace

Isaiah 9:6–7 ESV

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

John 14:27 ESV

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Its not an over-reach to say that Jesus came to bring peace.

We have talked about Hope, Faith and Joy so far.

Let’s do a personal assessment of these topics! Do it with me.

If i look at my life and my thought life, I think I have begun to grasp hope. Hope that Jesus has me, hope that He is returning. Hope in eternity with Him in perfection. I can struggle to be filled hope sometimes for things are this earth.

Faith is something that I am constantly going to be growing in. Sometimes its easier to let go and trust Him in certain circumstances. Other times, its really really hard for me. But I do know that He is faithful. I just struggle to walk in that faith.

Joy… I honestly really struggle with joy. Its not something that I feel a lot and honestly, I have been doing some assessment on my life and why. I am thankful that there is so many scriptures that are available to study, meditate on, and apply to our lives on the topic of Joy. Would you pray for me as i walk down that journey?

How about peace? Would you describe yourself as a peaceful person? How about your thought life? Do you have peace in your thought life? Is peace something that you feel like is a staple in your life?

Let’s do this, raise your hand if you will admit, with me, that you struggle to experience peace in your life and peace in your mind.

So, we know that Jesus came to bring peace. He is called the Prince of Peace after all. So, if this is a promise of Jesus and this is one of the things that He brought with Him, I have two questions. What kind of peace did He bring and How can I have some in my life?

Let’s look at the first question first.

WHAT KIND OF PEACE DID JESUS BRING?

We will see that scripture primary talks about two different ways that Jesus brought peace.

JESUS BROUGHT PEACE WITH THE FATHER

Here is what we know about scripture and man’s relationship with God.

God created a perfect garden with perfect man with a perfect relationship. There was no sin to cause division or hostility. But mankind changed that by becoming sinful. Mankind introduced sin into the world but also in man’s relationship with God. Sin causes division and hostility in relationships.

Sin also corrupted the earth and all that is in it.

Genesis 6:12 ESV

And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.

Romans 8:19–23 (ESV)

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

The whole structure, the entire system, all of creation was corrupted and tainted by sin.

But God still tried to be with His people. Through the tabernacle, through the temple. But God wanted more. He wanted us to be free from the burden and consequences of sin, so that we could have peace with God. But for centuries, man was trying to come to God through the law but even it could not be perfected.

So, God stepped down to us. Jesus stepped out of eternity to offer “Peace on earth, goodwill towards men!” He was bringing a gift of peace with the Father that the law was inadequate to accomplish.

When Jesus was born, man didn’t need to try to get to God. Jesus came to us.

Think about this, a broken and sinful world, all of creation, all of the earth, broken by the curse of sin. I see this dome of sin and hostility covering the world with us in it feeling helpless to get to the Father, groaning for God.

But Jesus stepped down in the only way that He could, in the flesh, to bring a solution of peace. The ambassador had arrived. Perfection invaded imperfection to offer a way of peace, a path to the Father. In fact, that is how Ephesians chapter 2 describes what Jesus did.

Ephesians 2:12–22 ESV

remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Jesus’s birth, life, death and resurrection bulldozed the wall of separation and hostility. He saw, He came, He destroyed the wall and He offered peace.

Now through Him, we have access to the Father. He provided a way that the law could never provide. He provided a sacrifice that no bulls and goats could provide. He offered not to change God to accept us but to give us His righteousness so that we can be “a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

Romans 5:17–19 ESV

For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

Jesus came to right the wrong of sin in the garden. If we can believe that one sin corrupted to whole world, we can believe that one act of righteousness and obedience of Jesus death, grace and mercy and justification can be offered.

Jesus came to offer that.

Jesus came to offer peace with the Father.

The second way that Jesus came to offer peace

JESUS CAME TO OFFER PEACE NOW IN OUR LIVES.

Turn with me to

Isaiah 26

Read through verse 4

Read verse 12

Isaiah is talking about the Lord building a city of peace for the righteous to enter into to be kept in the perfect peace of God.

I do not believe that this is an endtime prophecy but a prophecy that Jesus is to bring at His arrival.

If it was a prophecy about heaven, why would the unrighteous be prospering on the outside?

If it was a prophecy about heaven, why would we be instructed to keep our minds stayed on the Lord in order to experience that perfect peace?

I do not believe that this is talking about heaven but that this city of peace, this strong city with walls and bulwarks, this perfect peace is available to you and to me now.

Matthew Henry describes it like this.

“Thou wilt keep him in peace; in perfect peace, inward peace, outward peace, peace with God, peace of conscience, peace at all times, in all events. Trust in the Lord for that peace, that portion, which will be for ever.”- Matthew Henry

Which brings us to our second question.

HOW CAN I HAVE THAT PEACE IN MY LIFE?

If it is available to me, if we admitted at the beginning of the message that we could all use some of this peace in our live and in our minds, how can we have it.

Keep a finger in Isaiah chapter 26. We will come back.

Turn with me to Philippians 4:4-9

Philippians 4:4–9 ESV

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

“Practice these things and the God of peace will be with you” What a beautiful and amazing promise for now, today. For our lives now! But practice these things. Put them into action in your life.

I believe that you can build a city of peace around your heart and mind that you can rest in the perfect peace of God. This is the promise of these two passages.

We can see also from these two passages that we can apply some practices to our lives or to our thoughts to build this city to guard our hearts and minds.

From these passages, we can see 4 walls that that we can put in place. 4 practices that can help bring us into this city of perfect peace. There are probably more but this is 4 that we can start with.

WALL #1: PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION

All day, everyday, there are endless opportunities and situations that we can pray about and bring out situations and our request to God. We now have access to the Father through the peace provided by Jesus. Why don’t we use it more?

So, often, I bring my situations and request to other people. My wife, my friends, my family. But I could really stand to bring more of my life to my heavenly Father.

Jesus died to provide us with access that we can approach the throne of grace boldly with all of our request.

Candace, this week, said that

“EVEN THE SMALLEST MOMENT OF CHAOS IN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SURRENDER.” - CANDACE MCDOWELL

I’ll take that a step further and say that even the smallest moment of chaos or anything is an opportunity to pray. Make your request known to Him.

WALL #2: THANKSGIVING

Anxiety about situations or needs or lack of clarity is not what the Lord desires for you or your mind.

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 ESV

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Did you know that its impossible in the mind, physiologically, the mind can not focus on thanksgiving and anxiety? It can not do it!

That’s why it says “give thanks in all circumstances”. Set your mind to be thankful for all things and its a wall of peace in your mind and heart.

PE has taught about the 7up challenge. Everyday, start your day with writing down 7 things that you are thankful for. Make them different everyday. But the list could honestly be endless. But fix your mind on thanksgiving and it will be a wall against anxiety and for peace in your life.

WALL #3: RIGHTEOUSNESS

Isaiah 26:2 ESV

Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.

Sin is the destroyer of peace. It causes guilty and shame. It causes us to deny our identity of who we are in Christ. Sin is a cancer that eats away at the walls of peace in our lives. Sin causes division, in ourselves, in our relationships and in our lives.

Isaiah 59:2 ESV

but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Sin causes separation between you and your Father. But Jesus came to offer peace. Jesus is offering a path of righteousness that leads to peace. You can not have willful sin in your life and expect to have His perfect peace.

In order to enter into this city of peace, we must put to death the sinful nature in us. We must walk by the Spirit and not the flesh in order to experience the fruit of the Spirit which in

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

When we allow sin to be in our lives, we are leaving a wall open for the enemy to sneak in.

Killing sin and pursuing righteousness builds a wall of to our city of peace.

WALL #4: TRUST

Isaiah 26:3 ESV

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Proverbs 3:5 ESV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Scripture is covered in passages about trusting the Lord. And that includes trusting Him with all of your circumstances. In all of your ways.

That means this, stop trying to do it yourself or your way. Don’t just go for it on your own. Wait for the Lord. Wait for His direction. Wait for His instructions. Wait for His provision. Wait for His plan. Trust that His plan is better. Trust that He can see the future and knows what is best. Trust Him. Trust in Him and you will be kept in the perfect peace of God. Build up a wall of trust in your life. Take shelter behind Him.

Now if there was a roof on this city it would be to have a mind set on Christ.

THE ROOF: A MIND SET ON CHRIST

Isaiah 26:3 ESV

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Philippians 4:8 ESV

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Jesus is the truth. Jesus is the only one who deserves honor. Jesus is the only one who is just and fair. Jesus is soo lovely. Jesus is worthy of admiration. Jesus is the most excellent. And only Jesus is worthy of Praise!

Set your mind on Jesus, think about Him talk to Him, Bring your request to Him, thank Him, pursue a life like Him, trust Him in all of your ways.

Philippians 4:9 ESV

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

You will be in that city of peace promised in Isaiah.

Practice these things. Run into the city of peace.

Start to light the candle.

Jesus came to this Earth to offer peace with the Father and peace in our lives.

Invite band.

Close your eyes and think about this city. Think about these walls that we talked about about.

Walls of Prayer and supplication

Walls of thanksgiving

Walls of righteous living

Walls of trust

Fix your mind on the covering of Jesus

And listen to this verse.

Isaiah 26:20 ESV

Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by.

Every moment of chaos and fury is an opportunity to surrender and enter into the city of peace.

Pray