Comfort in Chaos

I have mentioned several times in my sermons here at Unplugged about the church I pastored deep in South Carolina. I was leader of this congregation during President Trump’s term when the riots emerged because of the death of George Floyd. Also, my family was there at the genesis of the COVID-19 virus. Talk about a divided nation. Not only was the nation divided but at the core of our small, country congregation was a disdain for my apolitical leadership of people who wanted me to to be expressive about conservative politics. Me and my family could only pray for the peace of Christ to heal our nation and our church congregation.

Have you ever been in the middle of chaos crying out to God to appease the situation? Have you ever been oppressed, hoping for God to do something about it?

Jesus could have come into the world causing a glorious seen, being escorted by a heavenly entourage, and making miracles to find a place for he and his parents to lay his head. Instead, God being faithful to his prophecy fulfilled them with a theme of grace and humility.

Luke 2:1-20, the story of Christ’s Birth, encourages us that Christians can experience peace in this broken world.

There are two reasons Christians can experience peace in the world

Reason #1: God can use Anyone: (The Characters we will highlight in today’s lesson are the Shepards God used to reveal the good news about Jesus)

Luke 2:8–10 NRSV

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:

This theme is revealed in God’s usage of Shepherds.

Abel who was murdered by his brother Cain because he gave God the more acceptable sacrifice was a shepherd. (Gen 4:2)

Abraham the “father of many nations” was a shepherd, rich because of the size of his flock. (Gen 24:35)

Isaac was a rich man because of his flock. He was a shepherd. (Gen 26:13-14)

Jacob worked as a Shepherd for his wife Rachel, even though he was cheated by his crooked uncle Laban. (Gen 29:6, 9; 30:40)

Joseph and his brothers tended flocks. (Gen 37:2)

Moses was tending his Father in Laws flock when God revealed himself to him at the burning bush. (Exodus 3:1)

Job had 7000 sheep. He was a shepherd. (Job 1:3)

David was a shepherd in Bethlehem before he defeated Goliath and was handpicked by God as the King of Israel. (1 Sam 16:11)

Amos was a shepherd by trade and God used him as a prophet (Amos 1:1).

. Jesus calls himself the good shepherd who Shepherds his flock to salvation (John 10:11).

A couple years ago, I was weight lifting at planet fitness one day and this really scrawny kid comes up to me as I was dumbbell bench pressing, to correct my form. I looked him up and down as if he didn’t know what he was talking about, then he said “trust me, I do this for a living.” I scoffed, dismissed him, continued to lift, and lets just say, to this day, I still experience shoulder pains. Do not despise the messenger that God decides to use for His glory.

When God mentions Shepherds be prepared for Him to move beyond human limitations. He uses these smelly sheep herders to pioneer people into peace and salvation. So, do not place a limit on who God can use to bring about his message to his people.

Reason #2: God can use Anything:

Luke 2:11–20 NRSV

11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

It was prophesied in Micah 5:2 that a ruler will come through the lineage of David and from God. REST ASSURED, WE CAN TRUST GOD’S PROMISES.

At this point in history, The Romans have their foot on the neck of the Jews and they are waiting for their Messiah to come and set them free from the nasty oppression they are facing. They are living in turmoil not peace. BUT God’s answer was a baby born in a pig trough?

Jesus being born in a manger is profound because He could have chosen a royal palace. He is royal after all. Instead, he was humble. The trough represents Jesus coming into our evil and chaotic world to embrace the human condition. The sleeping baby Jesus, is at rest even though his circumstance calls for stress and anxiety.

Hebrews 4:15 NRSV

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus is showing His people that His peace is going to be different than they expect. This peace He brings will not happen by summoning Apachee’s or Strykers and tanks. The peace He gives is not a military peace, but internal peace that is not of this world. The peace he gives comes from another Kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven.

I was watching the Netflix T.V Series titled Lincoln Law. There was a particular scene where the main character, who underwent rehab to overcome drug and alcohol abuse, found himself in the middle of a bar with a friend who experienced the addiction too. The main character and his friend were in the middle of a bar, reminiscing on their journey to sobriety. She didn’t shame him for sitting at the bar, tempted to drink his sorrows away. Instead, she met him where he was. My friends, Jesus’ birth in that pig trough, is proof that God meets us where we are, right in the middle of our mess.

Conclusion:

How can we access this peace? Peace comes to those who receive God’s grace. God has already taken care of the root of war, evil, sickness, and oppression. He took care of sin.

Philippians 2:6–8 NRSV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.