Peace

Christmas Stress!

I was reading on Christmas Stresses… and if you are like most people about this time of year you are beginning to feel the stress of Christmas and it tends to rob us of peace.

Whats funny is we sing songs like “Joy to the World” , “Its the most Wonderful time of the Year” , “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” etc… and yet we often aren’t Jolly or full of Joy and it certainly doesn’t always feel like the most wonderful time of the year.

Why is this? What causes the stress?

Clinical Physiologist say it is linked to,

So many to-dos at work, with little time left in the year, then the added stress of taking time off as expected by family.

Often because families get together, there is the navigation of family conflict

Struggles with gift giving, financial strains involved

Struggling with Expectations

For some it is struggling with Grief and loss of loved ones that year

Feeling Disappointed by unmet expectations

Loneliness even creeps in for some

They have a new disorder now called (SAD) Seasonal Affective Disorder which is a type of depression that occurs because of changes in the seasons.

I am sure if you think through this list 1 or 2 or maybe more may be something that fits you.

The Question this morning is, in the midst of all this stress is it possible to have Peace?

Today the Advent candle is called Peace and is also referred to as the Bethlehem Candle.

The Williams read two verses one out of Micah and the other out the gospel of Luke.

Micah gives us a prophecy of exactly where Jesus would be born in a town called Bethlehem.

Luke gives us insight to the words of the Angels declaring peace to men.

Luke 2:13–14 (NASB95)

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

Peace is an interesting word and is often thrown around without much thought.

What is Peace?

For the Greco-Roman of Jesus time peace was only achieved by war.

For example, the Homeric literature portrayed peace as an ideal state that a hero achieved through war. This led to the common adage, “If you wish peace, prepare for war”

Clearly this is not what the angels were singing about when they sang “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men”

There was a movie that came out in 2000 called Miss Congeniality.

Where the main actor who is a police officer goes undercover in a beauty pageant.

They get to a point in the pageant were the contestants are asked “what is the one most important thing our society needs?

All the contestants parrot each other by saying “World Peace!”

The Point of course is they are making fun of phrase that has been over used in pageants for decades, but with little thought or action taken toward it.

If you read the news our world is not at peace. Stating and speaking “World Peace” does not give peace.

We have the Greco-Roman mindset “If you wish peace, prepare for war”

We have the beauty pageant response or wish for “World Peace”

Let’s look at another… if you type into Google “how to have peace” it gives you a whole list of ideas… however nearly all of them lead to looking at yourself.

Buddha says “Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”

Marvin Gaye said “If you cannot find peace within yourself, you will never find it anywhere else”

I guess he heard that through the grapevine.

Here’s the problem…

When we look to the world for peace we won’t find it.

When we look in ourselves for peace it doesn’t work

Peace can only come from looking to Jesus!

What does it mean then when the Angels are singing “Peace among Men?”

blessing of peace n. — a state of peace that is a blessing or favor from God.

I would like to suggest 4 things this morning on how you and I can truly have peace.

1. Knowing Who Peace Is

Last week for the Peace candle we read Isaiah 9:6, notice what it says.

Isaiah 9:6 (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.

Jesus is Peace. Peace is a part of His very nature.

1 Corinthians 14:33a (NASB95)

for God is not a God of confusion but of peace,

Romans 15:33 (NASB95)

Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

If God is Peace then how can you and I have peace?

2. True Peace is for Believers.

Romans 5:10 tells us prior to being saved we were God’s enemy.

Romans 5:10 (NASB95)

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

When we place our faith in Christ as our Savior we are Justified. This is a legal term, meaning we are declared righteous before God.

Romans 5:1 (NASB95)

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

True “Peace” begins at salvation.

3. Peace is a decision

Isaiah 26:3–4 (NASB95)

“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You. “Trust in the Lord forever, For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.

Peace is found when our trust is in God… this is an active choice!

We discussed earlier…

Peace cannot be found in a statement for peace

Real peace is not achieved through war

Peace cannot be found in other humans

and Peace certainly cannot be found from within ourselves.

Peace is found in God’s word…

2 Peter 1:2 (NASB95)

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

As we gain more and more knowledge of Him and His character through His word, we learn who He is and why we can have peace through Him and His word.

We learn we can trust Him (Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”)…

We learn He never fails (Hebrews 13:5b–6“for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”…

We learn He fulfills His promises (Numbers 23:19 ““God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”)…

We learn He is never changing (Malachi 3:6a “For I, the Lord, do not change;”)…

4. Peace is a Gift

Jesus offers us His Peace.

I love John 14:27,

John 14:27 (NASB95)

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

Jesus is talking to His disciples here and He lets them know the Holy Spirit is coming to reside in them and other believers… This is the peace which He gives to us.

I have been reading a book on persecuted Christians called “When Faith is Forbidden”

Afrooz and her husband are Christians from Iran and have fled to Turkey seeking asylum as Iran was threatening to take their daughter from them because of their faith.

Their family had been displaced

They were hated by friends and family members

They feared for their lives

Afrooz however had peace, the author wrote “She’d found peace in the midst of the storm. His name is Jesus.”

Afrooz when she was in college was stressed out from work, school, and life so she did what a good muslim would do and cried out to Allah

Allah never came

Jesus appeared to her that evening and although she had never seen or read a Bible she wrote the words of Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”

The next day, she was talking to a friend about her experience. Her friend happened to be a Christian and showed her that verse in His Bible.

This began her journey in “Peace” as she placed her faith in Jesus.

Peace cannot be found in things or people… peace is often fleeting during the busy and stressful holidays.

But God gives peace…

Philippians 4:7 (NASB95)

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Are you lacking Peace this morning?

Where is your focus? Is it on God or other things?