Peace (2)

Introduction

This morning as we are here on this second Sunday of advent, we are celebrating the peace that comes to us from the Christ child, His life, His death and His resurrection.

The Old Testament prophet Isaiah prophesied a lot about Christ and I want to look at two verses to open this sermon today.

Isaiah 9:6-7

Isaiah 9:6–7 NKJV

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Among many declarations about Jesus, Isaiah announces that Christ would be a Prince of Peace. And when we think of peace, what comes to mind?

I think that we sometimes define peace in the way that the world defines it. But peace is a complex word and concept.

And this morning we are going to look at what peace is to the believer compared to the peace that the world defines.

In a scene moments before Jesus’ arrest and death, He was telling the disciples the things that He wanted them to remember after He was gone. and in His teaching He said that there are two types of peace.

The peace that He gives and the peace that the world gives. He says this in John 14:27

John 14:27 NKJV

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Speaking about this text, I heard one preacher say that “peace was the last gift Jesus gave His disciples before He died.

He said..

Jesus came to bring peace. He was born into a world that needed peace. He lived in a world that needed peace. And he was leaving behind a world that would need to know peace.

But the peace that the world wanted was a different kind of peace.

There is worldly peace and there is Jesus peace.

Two types of peace and those two types of peace come from different sources.

One, Jesus says, it given from Him and the other is given from the world.

A person might ask, “well pastor, if I can get peace from the world, then why do I need to get it from Jesus?”. And I would simply answer that by saying “because they are not the same”.

And this is what I want to look at this morning. I want us to see the two offers of peace and their source and see which one is better.

Now, i know that we already have a biased disposition to the one we would choose to have, but lets look anyway.

Worldly peace is superficial.

When it comes to worldly peace, I looked at a worldly source for their definition and and found on Google that peace is a : a state of tranquility or quiet: such as.freedom from civil disturbances such as war. or a lack of agitation.

I remember when I was a kid when dad would be at work and mom would be stuck at home with us four kids and she would say, I wish i could get a little peace”. What she meant was, “i wish these kids would stop getting on my nerves all day”.

But according to the world, peace is when there is no conflict. If people are not fighting then there is peace. When it comes to nations then, peace is when there is no open disturbance between them.

When two countries are not engaging in active warfare, there is a perception of peace. But this peace is a superficial peace because there are usually still a lot of underlying tensions, disputes, or conflicts that are simmering beneath the surface.

So the definition that said peace is when there is no open disturbance is a pretty fitting definition because of the word “open”.

If you look back across the centuries, I think you would be very hard pressed to find a peace that was between nations that still didn’t have some tensions and squabbling.

I remember during the Cold War, the U.S. and the Soviet Union weren’t directly fighting each other, but there was alway tension. They were always involved in spying on each other, arms races, and a lot of behind the scenes disturbance. So, even though there was no actual fighting and they had these tensions, they claimed it as a time of peace.

People tend to accept this definition for peace even in their personal lives. The absence of external conflict may be there,.. but many people still experience internal conflict.

There may be some friends who, on the surface, appear to have a peaceful relationship—there’s no argument or visible tension.

However, one of them might feel resentment or unspoken disagreements that really never have been resolved. The relationship is not at full peace because there are unaddressed tensions beneath the surface.

This can happen in a marriage where one or both people put problems on the back burner and never resolve them and they end up with the illusion of peace,.. while there is no real peace between them. The world offers superficial peace.

The Worlds peace is fleeting.

The peace offered by the world is an empty promise and can only bring temporary comfort and this is because it is a fleeting peace.

It is a fleeting peace because they place their peace of mind in the things of this world.

Worldly peace often gives a sense of comfort or relief, but it does not last.

The peace that the world offers is fleeting because it is based on things like wealth, relationships, success and status. The peace they provide is fragile, like a house built on sand. It is there and then it is gone.

This reminds me of the observation that King Solomon made after trying out every pleasure and aspect of life here on earth. He said that it is all “vanity of vanity” that it is meaningless like chasing after the wind. And this is true, the things of this world cannot bring peace to your life.

These things, however, are not stable sources of peace. Matthew 6:19-21 warns

Matthew 6:19–21 NKJV

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

When we rely on material things or external situations for our peace, it’s vulnerable to the ups and downs of life.

Economic struggles, health issues, or relationship problems can turn this type of peace into turmoil.

In the book of James he says that life is fragile in James 4:13-14 This reminds us that life is unpredictable and short, and peace based on worldly things is ultimately fragile and uncertain.

James 4:13–14 NKJV

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

So worldly peace is superficial and fleeting. It vanishes but there is a peace that surpasses all understanding. I heard one preacher call it a irrational peace.

This is a peace that is experienced by Christians that the world cannot understand.

It's not based on circumstances, and it doesn't depend on what’s happening around us. Instead, it comes from a deep trust in God, even in the midst of trials or uncertainty.

This "irrational peace" is something that the world cannot comprehend because it's not tied to external situations like wealth, success, or relationships.

Shalom..Peace

Jesus’ idea of peace comes from the Hebrew word shalom,

scholars say that this is one of the most important words in the Bible and our English word "peace" doesn’t fully grasp the meaning.

While "peace" can simply refer to the absence of conflict or a feeling of calm, shalom is much deeper. It means "to be complete," "to be healthy," or "to make peace." This peace is about being complete in all goodness, it about being completely restored in all aspects of a persons life.

When the Hebrew people would says Shalom as a greeting, it was a blessing.

This is the peace that is universally desired and sought after. It is a inward peace from the restored relationship with God.

This inward peace that Jesus gives can be actually experienced and rendered in a believers life. Galatians 5:22 reveals that we can have this peace through the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22 NKJV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

So to have this peace we must first be believers.

And one major difference between the peace of the world and the peace that Christ offers is that His peace is spiritual and not necessarily environmental or circumstantial.

Jesus says that His peace is there even in the midst of the hardest trails we face. John 16:33

John 16:33 NKJV

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

The One who has overcome the world gives us peace during tribulation. So the conditions for peace are not freedom from conflict or agitation, freedom from physical pain or economic wealth... or even a good relationship with someone.

Even if all those things are bad in the life of the believer, they still can have peace.

The only thing that is required is that you are right with God.

If you are not right with God, then any peace you are trying to hold on to is a illusion.

Romans 5:1 NKJV

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

For us to have a peaceful life, peace must start with God.

The bible says that everyone is a enemy of God’s until they are reconciled with Him. James 4:4

James 4:4 NKJV

Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

When Adam sinned, the relationship that humanity had with God was lost. Thus making mankind to have emnity with God. To remedy that, you and I must believe and put our faith in Christ. and in doing this the relationship is restored.

But also

To have peace, you cannot cling to sin.

If you are hanging on to the world and want true peace, it will be elusive and you will not find it.

But if you take God up on His offer of salvation and make the decision to become a Christian, put away sin you will be reconciled with God and receive that peace.

But a sinful life can disrupt that peace.

Once a person gives their life to Christ and receives His peace, there are still actions and commitments required to maintain that peace.

The peace that comes from God is real, lasting, and changes the person, but it’s also something we need to actively work on and protect.

Continually Trusting in God

When we face challenges, doubts, or fears, we are called to rely on God and trust in His faithfulness.

This trust is foundational to peace.

Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

Trusting God with our lives is essential to maintaining peace.

Another way that we maintain the peace that God gives in by protecting our minds from the world.

Romans 8:6 NKJV

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Two things from this verse is being carnally minded is death. carnally minded means that you think like the world.

You allow the world to influence your thoughts and define your thinking.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I don’t believe that the world is in any place that they should be defining my thinking.

They cannot even figure out what male and female. I see just by common sense that they are blinded by sin.

They think it’s OK to teach our kids a wrong lifestyle.

They think intoxication is a good thing and are making everything that is wrong legal.

That don’t sound like logical thinking to me. In fact the Bible says that in the last days people will be trading right for wrong and sin for good and getting everything upside down and this is exactly what we are seeing in this day and age.

So when it comes to protecting our minds, logically the best thing to do is stay away from the world.

Blessed is the man who does not take counsel with the ungodly or sit in the way of sinners.

But our thoughts should be on the things above.

Philippians 4:8 NKJV

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Our thoughts have a direct impact on our peace. The Bible encourages us to focus on things that bring peace rather than letting negative, anxious, or sinful thoughts take over.

Anxious thoughts are hard to face without the peace of Christ.

I believe that we cannot do it without Him. When we are gripped with fear, it will eat us alive unless we have Christ peace in our hearts.

But Jesus Himself offers peace and rest to those who are struggling.

In Matthew 11:28-30, He invites those who are weary and burdened to come to Him

Matthew 11:28–30 NKJV

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

But the peace that came with the Christ child is not a peace that is superficial or fleeting.

It is not a peace that is based on external things, material things or worldly things.

It is a peace that brings us close to God in salvation and brings rest to our anxious hearts.

Jesus said we may face trials and tribulations, troubles and heartaches but we can still have that inner peace that the world cannot touch.

The peace that Christ brought with Him was a costly peace. The body of Christ, weighted down by the sins of the world was nailed to the cross for our salvation, our peace with God.

We just have to put our lives in His hands, keep our minds on His things and allow the Holy Spirit to direct us.

Have you done that today? Is your life in the makers hands. The Prince of Peace offers His peace to you this morning.

When Jesus said “my peace I gives you” He wasn’t just wishing a world based peace. It wasn’t a simple blessing for peace. It was His peace.

He offered a part of himself.

And this morning that is what He is offering us.

In this crazy upside down world, where nothing seems to be quite right, Jesus the Prince of Peace, offers His peace.

First to bring us into a right standing with God and second to give us a peace that is irrational.

Maybe this seemshard for you right now. Maybe when you look in the mirror, you see anything but shalom.

Maybe you can see the stress that has invaded your life, the endless cycles of turmoil and trial.

Maybe your dealing with disagreements and heartaches.

Maybe you have a frown on your face from life’s hard circumstances.

I don’t have the answers to all those hard things that people experience and I won’t even pretend that i do.

But I do know that Christ is the peace your looking for, He is the one who offers a part of himself and He offers it to you.

Let us pray.