THE REASON FOR PEACE
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A Season of Peace
A Season of Peace
Luke 1:26-38
Luke 1:26-38
The weeks leading up to Christmas should be a time of joy, peace, and love; but far too often they are times of uncertainty, frustration, worry and stress.
When we find ourselves beginning to be caught up in the materialism of the season, we must stop and refocus by remembering that Christmas is about God’s perfect gift to us, Jesus Christ.
Rather than worry this Christmas season, refocusing our hearts and minds can help us to worship the One whose birth we celebrate .
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Message of Peace
Message of Peace
The truth is this: Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace that Isaiah spoke about 700 years before His birth.
When we understand the miraculous message that Jesus came to Earth to be our Saviour and Prince of Peace, we can truly worship Him during with Season.
Three distinct promises from God’s Word about peace made possible by Jesus Christ:
Peace from God:
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Peace with God:
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Peace of God:
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
His presence brings peace to our troubled lives.
His presence brings peace to our troubled lives.
A. From A Heavenly Messenger -vs. 26
A. From A Heavenly Messenger -vs. 26
Note- “was sent from God”
Note- Gabriel was sent at a specific time “in the sixth month” of Elisabeth’s pregnancy, to a specific place “a city of Galilee, named Nazareth”, to a specific person “to a virgin espoused to a man named Joseph”. God brought His Son into the world at the exact moment in the exact way that He planned it.
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
the same angel, that near five hundred years before gave Daniel an exact account of the time of the Messiah’s coming, and six months ago acquainted Zacharias with the conception, birth, character, and office of his forerunner: unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth;
21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
B. To A Humble Place-vs. 26
B. To A Humble Place-vs. 26
Not a very impressive town for the birth of the Son of God, the promised Messiah.
Nazareth was a small, poor Jewish village, not on any trade routes and was of little economic importance to the region.
It was nothing like Jerusalem, which central to the kingdom and many thought would be an ideal place for the birthplace of the king.
Map showing Gabriel speaking to Zechariah and Mary
God is not impressed with the magnitude of a city. In fact, great works of God have often been started in small places with people that have a great commitment to the Lord.
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
The humble place of Nazareth reminds us that God is looking for people that have a heart for Him.
How is your heart?
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
In this humble place God found a woman with a heart for Him, so that was where He chose to work.
C. To A Holy Woman-vs. 27
C. To A Holy Woman-vs. 27
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
The Holy Spirit notes throughout Scripture the importance of Mary’s purity to protect the doctrine of the virgin birth of Jesus.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Mary was not unique financially or socially, but she was a willing vessel ready bring God’s Son into the World.
She actually sought God’s direction and will for her life-see vs. 28- “thou that art highly favoured” means “literally-Full of Grace”
Reasons for Peace
Reasons for Peace
Listen to what Mary was being told:
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
This was the greatest news the world would ever know. Surely this was the most important news that Mary had ever heard, so you and I can imagine why she was not overjoyed with it all…certainly not responding in a way that would indicate she had great peace about this news.
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
Many times when God is working in our lives, we don’t fully understand. It is during these times that we must make the choice to “trust God rather than trusting self.” is the choice that Joseph had to make, and it is the same choice Mary is going to make.
There are some truths spoken by Gabriel that helped Mary have peace about this situation:
A. The Presence of Jesus-vs. 30, 31
A. The Presence of Jesus-vs. 30, 31
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Jesus=He will save
Song-Theres something about that name
Characteristics about the name of Jesus:
It is easy to pronounce.
It is an esteemed name.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
3. An enduring name.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
4. An Exclusive name.
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
B. The Power of Jesus- vs. 32
B. The Power of Jesus- vs. 32
When we think of the power of Jesus we must think about His nature: “Jesus is God”
He is Eternal God
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2. He is Fully God
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
3. He is Called God
And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Jesus is God to deny His name is to deny His Deity.
C. The Permanence of Jesus-vs. 33,34
C. The Permanence of Jesus-vs. 33,34
Note-vs. 32- “throne of his father David; vs. 33- “reign over the house of Jacob for ever”
Jesus was of the lineage of David through both Mary and Joseph. Because of this many thought Jesus was going to set up an earthly kingdom…but a earthly kingdom would have just been temporary. No, He came set up a Heavenly kingdom that will last for all eternity.
You, see they rejected Him the first time He came:
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
But, at the Second Coming of Jesus, He come as the King of kings and establish His kingdom and peace on earth.
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
We can have peace today because of Who Jesus is and What He is doing!!!
Submission to Peace
Submission to Peace
Note-the message of peace is still the same today, Jesus is God and He wants to be a vital part of of our lives. Even though the message is the same to everyone, everyone’s response is not the same.
Do you ever feel amazed that God would send His Son to live a perfectly sinless life and give Himself for all mankind, just because He loves us? Yet, people refuse to believe it!
In verses 34-38 we see a principle in Mary’s life that we should desire to duplicate in ours:
“She chose to believe and to obey”
As she heard the angel speak she began to realize Who Jesus was and she determined to believe and submit herself to God and His direction for her life.
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
A. Consent to God's Will-vs. 38
A. Consent to God's Will-vs. 38
"The handmaid of the Lord"
God’s plan could have went on without Mary’s consent, but God asks us to surrender our wills to His way.
William Barclay once said that the most popular prayer is “thy will be changed”; but the greatest prayer is “thy will be done.”
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Mary was saying: “I don’t know exactly how God wants to work through me, but I am ready to be a part of Him working through me.
B. Consent to God's Word-vs. 38
B. Consent to God's Word-vs. 38
"According to thy Word"
Mary’s choice came down to this: was she going to trust the Word of God? Could she believe everything would happen just as the angel said it would; or was she going to trust herself?
“God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him” Andrew Murray
When we consent to God’s Word we find that it never fails:
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
When we submit to God in every area of our lives then we will know true peace and will be able to worship Him.
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
Making your lists and checking them twice, make sure you are setting yourself up for a season of peace rather than worry and stress.
Peace comes when we believer the Word of God and what it says about who Jesus is and why He came.