Peace on Earth

Baptisms last week / Lets be praying for the new believers: for the

Christmas coming up 4 services 1/3/5/7

Giveaway in the lobby: Magnets

Luke 2:8–16 (ESV)

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths 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,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

Title: “A peace that changed it all”

Its fair to say that this Life we live whether it is in a national sense, or a personal sense - if you go back far enough and study it - is marked by two clear contrasting things: Peace and some form of Conflict.

Peace and instability.

Said a different way. Smooth seas…. and then Storms. Clear skies and then rain

Hard times… and Good times

War…. and peace

Peace agreements can be fragile and don't always last long: Short duration: According to a 2016 PRIO report, most peace processes end after seven years. A UChicago News article states that almost 40% of peace agreements since 1975 have collapsed within five years.

One of the clear themes of the bible, but very cearly and visible in the Christmas (Christ Coming STory) is this theme of PEACE

Hope

Joy

Peace

Why is peace so important as a part of this time…. well lets get into it:

We have to understand and embrace some biblical truth:

1.GOD IS A GOD OF PEACE

HE is not a God of war

A god of Hate

A God of division.

He is Jehovah Shalom a GOD OF SHALOM

Judges 6:24 (ESV)

24 Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace. To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites.

God is PEACE. And He therefore brings peace with him wherever he goes, whatever he does

God brings PEACE to Chaos. To Trouble. To a world that is in turmoil. God has always been this SHALOM God, This Peaceful GOD

This is a fundamental truth about Gods character:

Genesis 1:1–3 “1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”

the light brought what? order… and peace: it was light. You could see. You could apprwciate you could see what He had done

Haggai 2:9 “9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’ ””

The Aaronic Blessing, the Priestly Blessing

Numbers 6:24–25 “24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;”

and what?

Numbers 6:26 “26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

This is what Biblical Peace is - It is established by, and given by - the Lord and the Lord only.

So if you want to dig in here 4 quistions naturaly you may want to ask about this peace:

i.What is it?

What is biblical peace?

Its Shalom - It is the presence of God irrespective of the existing or future circumstances: this is why we need this peace. Because we dont know what tmrw will bring, but we can have peace when it arrives

Here is a working definition applicable for us:

Biblical peace is:

“Not the absense of stress, chaos or conflict but rather the presence of a person namely the Lord Jesus”

You may have come to church today looking for a rest, looking for a peace or a getaway from a tumultuous situation in your life.

If you want peace today

its not found in a thing, but a person.

Thats the biblical definition of peace: it is established and dispacted, published and comes from the Lord.

ii.Where does it come from? the God who is a God of peace. He publishes peace. He issues it. He created it and he Give

Where does peace not come from? anything that gives me a good feeling for a short time. The peace that the bible talks about is a long lasting, permanent, eternal PEACE.

iii.Who needs it?

everyone… by why?

So a better question is - Why do we need it?

Because the opposite of peace is WAR… and CONFLICT. and we are all enemies of God when we are born into this world. We are all at ODDS with the Lord. We are born into a sinful nature. This comes from the FALL. this comes

Gensis 3 the Fall happens. God drives man out of the Garden… and if you like - there it begins: and it never eneds

Genesis 4:8 ESV

8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

This is if you like after the fall the first we see of conflict… resulting in murder

and that has never ceased

How many treaties have been signed how many attempts at peace have been tried in human form.

Man needs GOD….. to establish peace

iv.How do we get it?

Its not found in a program

Its not found in a philosphy

Its not found even in a practice

It is only found in a person - only found in the Lord Jesus

2.THE GOSPEL IS A GOSPEL OF PEACE

the goodnews of the Gospel is that its a PEACE That has come, to earth, and rests or stays with those whom God is pleased?

who is God pleased with? anyone who recieves his SON as Lord.

When we receive Jesus as Lord, He gives us heavenly peace. Real Peace.

Beholding Jesus is how we experience real peace. Because in doing so we are given this peace.

Ephesians 6:14–15 ESV

14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

Ae you looking for RESPITE? Because you should be looking for JESUS.

3.JESUS IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE

John 14:27 ESV

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Peace i leave with you

My peace i give you -

What happens when you have an encounter with the Lord Jesus - When you come to Jesus - WHen you behold JESUS for yourself, your own life, your own Journey

He leaves his peace in you

and he gives you peace CONTINUALLY

There is a constant source of peace because the Lord Jesus has come. He is our peace. now and forever more.

He gives you his Joy.. and His peace.

4.GOD PROMISES PEACE TO HIS BELOVED

In christ. This is the promise of Christmas.

Eternal Peace with HIM.

Not freedom from troubles now… but certainly a peace with him forever.

Philippians 4:6–7 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Why is this peace something that goes past understanding: because of WHAT LIED IN THE MANGER. a Child.

how could a child bring this kind of peace?

It wasnt a strong miliarty force

it wasnt an earthly FORCE, but a heavenly presence that brought this peace into this world.

A peace that changed it all, forever. How could a child possibly bridge the gap between MAN and GOD? because he would become the GOD MAN. Fully Man and FULLY GOD

And He did it. He was it. and He did it

and now… we have a PEACE that surpasses ALL UNDERSTANDING

Thats why the heavenly host showed up in a multitude and sang and praised

Luke 2:14 ESV

14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Peace Verses:

Romans 5:1 ESV

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

Romans 14:17 ESV

17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13 ESV

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

1 Corinthians 14:33 ESV

33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

Ephesians 2:14 ESV

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility