The Promise of Peace

INTRODUCTION

Welcome-

Welcome to those of you in-person and online…

INVITE:

Pasta Dinner

Candlelight

Series Review: The Promise of Christmas

First we looked at God’s Promise of Hope- In Christ we can have a reliable hope which causes us to be resillient people.

Second we looked at God’s Promise of Joy- In Christ, we can have an everlasting joy which causes us to have joy regardless of whats happening around us or what we may be going Through.

This week, Part 3 I want to talk to you about the Promise of Peace.

STORY: The Tarp that Stole my Peace…

The Builder, the Tarp, the Wind and my level of sleep…

Sermon Shift:

PEACE DEFINED:

Peace us a stare or condition of being free of disturbance or un-impacted by disturbances.

I like to define peace as “a settled soul.”

Although a tarp holds no promise of providing peace in a 65mph wind and rain storm, I am glad that Christmas carries with it the promise of peace.

Over 2,000 years ago there were some shepherds out in a field taking care of their sheep in the night. While they were watching their sheep, listening to them bahhhh. While the sheep were looking a bit sheepish… All of a sudden something amazing happened.

Read:

Heres what it says in Luke 2:13–14

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.””

Now that was no mere announcement that was by accident or trivial. It was actually a prophetic fulfillment of an old promise as well as a new promise.

Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

That Prophecy in Isaiah which was over 700 years earlier prophesied the coming of Jesus one day.

PROPOSITION: The Promise of Christmas is not just the promise of peace but of a peace that remains, if we know how to have it.

PRAY

BODY OF MESSAGE

Transition: When it comes to that first Christmas…

1) THE PROMISE OF PEACE IS UNDENIABLE

THE CONTEXT JESUS WAS BORN- THE PAX ROMANA

The Pax Romana

The Pax Romana (Latin for “Roman Peace”) was a period of relative peace and stability across the Roman Empire that lasted approximately 200 years, from 27 BCE to around 180 CE. It began with the reign of Augustus, the first Roman emperor, and ended with the death of Marcus Aurelius (The Gladiator), the last of the so-called “Five Good Emperors.”

That is who the amazing movie THE GLADIATOR is all about. 

Key Features of the Pax Romana:

Political Stability 

Centralized Governance 

Leadership Succession 

Economic Prosperity 

Expanded markets 

Expanded Infrastructure 

Cultural Flourishing 

Culture & Law built traditions 

Literature and arts 

Military Dominance 

Secure boarders 

Suppressed uprisings 

Effective at eliminating external threats

Localized conflicts happened of course 

Legal & Administrative Advances

Standardization of Roman law helped it become a diversified culture. 

Efficient governance under a unified system contributed to long term stability.

When God sent His son Jesus to the world at the time he did it truly is prophetic in nature. 

It was one of the most peaceful times nationally and globally in that part of the world, ever. 

While man sought and fought for peace the best they could make it, THE PAX ROMANA, God sent His plan and program of peace, by sending His Son. 

THE PROMISE IN LUKE 1:67-79

Luke 1:67–79 NIV84

His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

The prophecy is connected to John and who he was to be a messenger for, speaking about Jesus. Jesus is the horn of salvation. Jesus would be our rising sun. Jesus will be our guide in the path of peace.

Jesus Promises Peace

John 14:27 (NIV84)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Jesus makes a very clear and profound and amazing promise. That He leaves his peace with us. Only the prince of peace, only the God of peace can do that.

Jesus promise of peace is not a promise that we wont have to face or deal with anything. We will deal with things.

The Peace Jesus is promising is a peace that can remain, a peace that can last, a peace that the world cant give nor the world is able to take away.

The World can Offer a Measure of Peace:

The Stock Market

The Nations and their promises

Our Military

Politics

Your Home/beach/etc

What do you call on when things go south, get difficult or seem really really daunting? Who or what do you call on when your troubled, disturbed in you soul and have no peace over your own moral flaws etc?

Do you call out “Dear Ford Lincoln and Mercury?

Do you call out “Oh 401k Almighty?”

PEACE: GODS BALLIST FOR YOUR SOUL

When ship builders used to build ships and mariners would sail they would load these cargo ships up with all kinds of goods, supplies etc. They would prepare the vessel to embark on long journeys… well.. in order for the vessel to not capsize or be turned upside down while facing treacherous waters or even to be able to carry the weight of it’s own vessel through the waters, they had to use something called a ballast…

Gods peace becomes a ballist for your soul as your navigate life…

This is the kind of peace God promises…

The Peace the World can Offer is only as good as a tarp under 65 mph winds and rain… Jesus peace is the hurricane clips, with high grade shingles and ice and water shield!

Transition: So how do we get that peace

2) FOUR ASPECTS OF GODS PEACE

1. PEACE WITH GOD| Thats relationship

Romans 5:1 (NIV84)

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

Think of your soul like a house that needs a roof and Jesus is the Roof. When our lives are under Jesus we have peace.

God designed you and I to have relationship with Him. We are made for relationship, not just with another human being but first and foremost, made for a relationship with God.

The Promise of Gods Peace as announced by the angels to the shepherds was wonderful but it was also insightful. Lets read it again: Luke 2:14 ““Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.””

On Whom His Favor Rests- We don’t get Gods peace unless we have Gods favor. That happens as a result of having a relationship with him.

Well Pastor Billy, then how do I get Gods favor, his smile on my life? FAITH!

FAITH PRODUCES GODS FAVOR. - Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

Faith, Produces Gods Favor and Gods Favor Produces Gods peace.

When you Put your Faith in God’s Son Jesus Christ, your

acknowledging God sent him to die for your sin on the cross

accepting his death for you

yielding your life over to God

This is what produces Gods favor and peace.

Often times a soul is unsettled when its not settled with God.

God’s peace is reserved for Gods people. We cannot enjoy Gods peace while also remaining at a distance with God. As long as we remain at a distance from God there will be a disturbance in our souls. Jesus came to bring us back to God.

The good news, the Gospel is the gospel of Peace as the Bible describes it. Thats the goodnews and the first step to God’s Peace that remains is a relationship with Him.

Next is…

2. PEACE FROM GOD | That’s a gift

John 14:27 (NIV84)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Once we have settled things with God, our souls become settled, spiritually.

Peace with God means between the two there is peace. Peace from God has to do with enjoying the gift of His peace.

Jesus said He “gives” his peace. Thats a free gift.

That gift. He gives it to you freely without charge.

Because of having peace with God, we can be set free from inner turmoil and conflict. The Holy Spirit produces this gift of peace within us.

3. THE PEACE OF GOD | Thats peace for life’s challenges

The reason God gives us his peace and can give us peace is because we will need it! We are not exempt from life’s challenges. There are so many things that can steal you peace.

A Tough day, bad news, a condemning thought or dream or others thoughts and feelings that can rob you of your peace. Satan tries to steal your peace. Thats when we need the peace of God and heres how we get it.

Philippians 4:4–7“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

When we are struggling to hold onto peace and we become unsettled we often times can become unreasonable. In fact I would say that most of the unreasonable people you encounter on a regular basis… argumentative… demanding… uncooperative… just unreasonable… most-likely are struggling with finding peace. The sooner they find peace the sooner they can become reasonable. We can get like that as well… totally unreasonable.

Well the Apostle Paul gives us the secrete to experiencing and releasing the peace OF God.

When we engage with God especially in response to anxious things… God doesn’t just solve the problem. The peace OF God is released over you. God releases more peace.

The Bible says this transcends or surpasses our understanding. Meaning it goes beyond and over our sense of reason.

I like what author Fucia Pickett wrote about this when talking about the Fruit of the Holy Spirit and peace.

“No matter what kind of vexing situation or painful circumstances we have to face, we can go through it in the power of the Holy Spirit in the peace of God that is not dependent on our natural ability to cop.” - Fuchsia Pickett

My friends, just the fact you struggle to go to God and pray and pray often is the point. You cannot understand how retreating to the prayer closet deals with the difficult famly member, or coworker. You may not understand how it will solve your financial issue to help you in the legal battles… but thats the point. God answers prayer, with his peace, it goes beyond the understanding.

4. PEACE IN GOD | Thats Considering God in all of life

Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”

Isaiah promises that if we can get our minds on the Lord and keep our minds on the Lord, we will find perfect peace IN God.

The word stayed in Hebrews carries with it the idea of something “being nailed down.”

That tarp that came undone did so at the nails. It was nailed down, but it became disconnected and resulted in a very tumultuous experience.

The problems are never really the problems… its how we are anchored.

If we will get anchored in God we will experience sustaining peace like we’ve never known it.

Transition: Listen my friends…

Conclusion

3. The Peace God Promises is a peace that remains!

John 16:33 ““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.””

Jesus made it clear, that in this life there will be times of challenge and trouble. The Peace God promises is a peace that can hold up and remain in you. Its a peace that will settle your soul.

The Peace God Promises is established through relationship

recieved as a gift

cultivated through prayer

secured through trust

Today if you dont have a relationship with God: Meaning a time when you paused, ackowledged your a sinner and tell God your sorry and want his best for your life… then todays the day to do it.

Perhaps your overcome/overwhelmed with life and its worries… bring those things to the altar today and experience His peace

Thank God for His peace, recognize its a gift, you just get to receive it.

WORSHIP

CLOSING PRAYER

Numbers 6:24–26 ““ ‘ “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ’”

i

SERMONS AIM

The Aim of this message is to highlight that when Jesus came to earth and was born this was God fulfilling His promise to give us peace. God promises Peace (show Biblical examples) but not just any kind of peace, He promises the kind of peace we all really would love to have, peace that lasts. In order for God to make good on that promise He had to provide Jesus in order to give us a strong foundation of peace. Peace is a wonderful thing to have. Peace becomes like the oil of life. Peace is to our souls like what a ballast is to a ship. Peace stabilizes us, balances us out, settles us and helps keep ups from being thrown around by life’s wind and waves. If we want real peace, that which truly can keep us stable, steadfast, upright and heading forward in life, we needs the peace God gives, and only God can give. When there is peace there is a settled soul, a settled mind and we are able to enter into and enjoy things like hope and joy and life. In this message I want to teach 1) What peace is, 2) What kind of peace God promises, 3) What steals our peace and 4) How we experience the peace God promises.

How we experience the peace God promises:

The Promise of Peace | Settled in my Soul