The Christmas Gift's - Peace

As we remember last week and begin to move forward.

Let’s think of this.

Last week we spoke on Hope there can be no righteousness without hope.

But one thing we didn’t clarify can be found in Paul’s writings in 2 Corinthians 5:21.

We did not clarify what righteousness is.

Webster defines it this way

“acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin”

Here is what Apostle Paul says about righteousness....

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The reality of these truths are that we cannot have righteousness on our own.

Only on the behalf of what Jesus Christ has done for us.

God made Christ to be sin, in other words, God sent Jesus to a sinful world.

Why?

So that he may go to the cross of Calvary and give us opportunity for righteousness.

In that truth, when we have been made righteous we receive some wonderful gifts from God.

One o f those being the gift of hope that we spoke on last week.

Another, the gift of peace that we are going to speak on today.

Friend’s I feel we can likely all agree that life is hard sometimes.

The reality of our life is that at some point all of us will face loss, we will face hardship, and yes we will face pain.

This truth leads us to an important question or us to consider today.

How can we have true peace in such a broken world?

The scripture says this

John 16:33 KJV 1900

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

The world we are facing today, well church it is scary.

We are going to face tribulation in some way.

First, let’s answer the question. What exactly is tribulation?

Well to make it clear scripture is clear that tribulation is a time of great suffering.

I know we have all had suffering.

This is something each of us face throughout our life.

For some of us it may be more than others.

But for all of us we see the effects of tribulation.

Friends, let me tell you.

The reality is that....

I. Tribulation is of the World

Scripture clearly taught us that.

and the hardest part about tribulation is it isn’t going away in our world.

Its growing larger.

As sin continues to grow, so does tribulation.

In fact, its even beginning to leak its way into the church.

Often driving Jesus’s holy church to acting more unholy than the world.

The reason this so simply takes place is that we have forgotten our commitment to God.

Often we live in the world then wonder why tribulation lives in us.

We wonder where God is, while we never look for him.

When tribulation comes we begin to act as the world and drive our self even deeper into Satan’s trap.

Many have forsaken the gospel of Jesus Christ because they feel He is distant from them, yet, they choose not to follow in His truth each day.

When we have forsaken the truth that our God has put before us, we can expect nothing more than great aloneness in our life...

A Holy God Cannot dwell with a Worldly Man or Woman.

When you choose to face tribulation from a worldly perspective, you do not remove yourself from tribulation.

Friends, you move deeper into it.

So how is it that we can remove this tribulation from our life?

The reality of a fallen world is that we cannot.

We cannot remove tribulation entirely.

However, what we can do is....

II. Face it in Jesus Name

In our scripture today, Jesus said.

“be of Good cheer I have overcome the world.”

Can you imagine.

This reality is a truth that we not only face tribulation.

We are confident, we are of good cheer.

We are rejoicing.

we have good cheer in our tribulation when we understand that what Jesus has done is more significant than the worlds brokenness.

We see the miracle of what he has done in that He was the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

That he came to earth to redeem me, and to redeem you.

That he came so that we may have life and have it more abundantly.

Yet in these truths we refuse to follow the miracle of his peace.

We often live in fear, anxiety and depression when he has given peace.

And we miss it when we choose to not face it with Him.

I don’t know what trials are taking place in all of your lives right now.

I'm blessed to know some of them as many of you have shared tribulation that is taking place in your life with me as one of your pastors.

The only truth really that we have today is simple.

When we face tribulation with Jesus we can truly have peace.

We don’t need to fear the feelings of pressure that many of us do if we are facing the challenges of our life in Jesus Name.

When Hudson Taylor was director of the China Inland Mission, he often interviewed candidates for the mission field.

On one occasion, he met with a group of applicants to determine their motivations for service.

"And why do you wish to go as a foreign missionary?" he asked one.

He replied "I want to go because Christ has commanded us to go into all the world..."

Another said, "I want to go because millions are perishing without Christ."

Others gave different answers.

Then Hudson Taylor said, "All of these motives, however good, will fail you in times of testings, trials, tribulations, and possible death.

There is but one motive that will sustain you in trial and testing; namely, the love of Christ."

Jesus has not called us to be a people who are selfish.

But there is one truth we can be selfish in....

III. That’s My Jesus

We can take possession of that today.

We take possession because my God will be there.

If I live for Him he will be there.

If I serve Him he will be there.

If I remember the truth of him redeeming me.

If I take possession of that, He will be there.

Do you know why many Christians and many churches are failing and falling to the world?

They didn't take possession of their God.

Salvation was only an occurrence in their life.

But it doesn’t affect their daily decisions.

It doesn't affect the actions they take.

It’s only a moment in time.

Sure, they want to be thankful later. When death has called.

But for now while health is present those individuals want to serve the world.

Let’s put this into perspective.

If someone were to sacrifice their earthly life so that you may live, most all of us would be grateful to death.

Yet, when one has sacrificed His very life, for our eternal life, we fail to celebrate it.

How is it that Jesus Christ could go to the cross of calvary and we could be redeemed through grace unto Him.

Then, fail to take possession of our faith.

That’s My Jesus.

That’s who I want to live for.

That’s who I want to serve.

That’s who I will give my all to and who’s compass will guide me and lead me.