Experience The Gift of Peace - 4

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Video of Peace

Title of the Series this Morning

Experience The Gifts of Christmas

Title of the Message this Morning

Experience The Gift of Peace

Big Idea:

This Advent season, we’re reminded that peace is not just the absence of conflict but a gift from Jesus, the Prince of Peace, who entered our troubled world to bring peace with God, peace within ourselves, and the promise of peace to come.

As we navigate life’s challenges, let’s embrace the peace Jesus offers—peace that surpasses understanding and guards our hearts and minds as we trust in Him, both now and in the future when His peace will reign completely.

Prayer:

“God, thank you that in this season of Advent we can experience your gift of peace.

Help us to live in the peace you provided through Jesus, rest in the peace you give in the midst of life, and trust in the peace of knowing you have overcome the world.

Fill us and hold us with your peace as we encounter you and experience the depth and richness of life you provide both now and forever.”

Main Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:16, Romans 5:1-2, Philippians 4:6-7

Introduction

When you hear the word, “peace” what comes to mind?

Did any of you happen to imagine any of these three symbols?

These three images are very different, but they are all very recognizable signs of peace.

Interestingly, not one was developed out of an abundance of peace but rather out of the need for peace.

Here is a brief summary of their stories…

What we know as the traditional peace sign was first developed by a British artist and activist named Gerald Holtom in 1958.

The emblem was based on flag semaphore movements for two letters:

The letters stood for nuclear disarmament.

The symbol was used in Britain to protest the making of nuclear weapons.

When it was brought to America, it was used for broader purposes in the civil rights movement and later as an anti-war symbol by those who opposed the Vietnam War.

And what about the two fingers raised in a V shape?

This symbol actually started as a sign of victory, not peace.

Resistance fighters in German-occupied territories used it as a symbol of strength during World War II.

The British prime minister Winston Churchill adopted it to stand for the English victory, and it eventually came to stand for the end of the conflict.

Later, in the 1960s, it was adopted as an anti-war symbol by Americans who opposed war.

As for the dove and the olive branch?

This image was used in many traditions throughout history, but the Christian symbolism comes from the Old Testament account of Noah, who sent a dove in search of land after the great flood.

It was a sign of the promise of peace after the storm of God’s judgment.

All these images came about because of a desperate need for peace in the midst of conflict and unrest.

So, while these images are helpful and somewhat inspiring, what is peace?

Peace is defined as “freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility.”

We see peace most clearly not in the absence of noise, suffering, and conflict but in the midst of it.

I’m sure we all remember the war started by Russia on Ukraine.

I remember the turmoil, unrest, and chaos that the world experienced and still done even today.

This is the world Jesus came to… it was just as chaotic 2000 years ago when Jesus arrived.

Even today then we sing songs Silent Night, that original night was not actually very silent.

The world was not at peace.

There was a divide between God and people.

There was conflict among families and nations.

There was political turmoil, and Roman oppression in Israel.

There was demanding physical travel forced on Mary and Joseph by Roman politicians.

But in the midst of all this, Jesus came as the Prince of Peace.

Jesus the Messiah was and is many things that the prophet Isaiah foretold He would be:

“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” (Isaiah 9:6).

But it’s important to remember that Jesus is not just a symbol of peace, He is peace.

And the Prince of Peace offers us the gift of peace this Advent season.

This was part of His original birth announcement made by the angels:

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests’” (Luke 2:13–14).

If you’ve been with us the past three weeks, you know that we have been on a journey through the season of Advent as we’ve experienced the gifts of hope, love, and joy.

The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival,” and the season is marked by expectation, waiting, anticipation, and longing.

Advent is not just an extension of Christmas, it is a season that links the past, present, and future.

Advent offers us the opportunity to share in the ancient longing for the coming of the Messiah, to celebrate His birth, and to be alert for His second coming. (explain)

This doctrine describes the expected return of Jesus Christ at the end of time, when he will come to judge the world and usher in the fullness of his kingdom.

Key Passages

Daniel 7:13

“I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.

The first person of the Holy Trinity. a name for God used by the prophet Daniel, who portrayed God on His throne, judging the great world empires of his day (Dan. 7:9, 13, 22).

Matthew 24:30–31 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His…

Acts 1:11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

1 Th 4:16–18 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we…And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Heb 9:27–28 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Re 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Today we light the fourth candle, the candle of peace.

Advent is a season for allowing God’s peace to infiltrate our hearts and minds as we experience His coming at Christmas and await His eventual return.

Main Teaching

What an appropriate time and season to recognize Jesus as our peace!

Our world is not much different from the one Jesus stepped into a couple thousand years ago.

We are certainly more technologically advanced, but our fast-paced, high-tech capabilities in many ways have added to the anxiety, stress, and fatigue we feel as we live at the relentless pace of life.

I know many of us feel anxiety, Stress and fatigue.

Our world is filled with wars and violence.

Governments and politicians rage and out of control.

And that’s why we’re here…

We need an experience of faith.

During this Advent season, we recognize a deep need to reset our hearts and minds to be still and listen as we wait.

Peace is our gift today.

Let’s look at several ways that peace manifests itself in our lives.

1. Peace with God

Have you ever seen the bumper sticker that says,

No God, No Peace. Know God, Know Peace.

When we know God, we can experience peace because of who Christ is and what He did in coming to earth, living among us, dying on the cross, and resurrecting to defeat sin and death.

Apostle Paul made an important note in Romans that we are wise not to overlook.

Romans 5:1–2 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”

Jesus brings and allows us peace with God, our Creator.

Our first and greatest need for peace is to be at peace with God.

Our sin naturally separates us from God.

And when we believe in Jesus, repent of our sin, and accept His salvation and forgiveness, we are at peace with God.

The barriers of conflict and sin are removed.

We are right with Him in unity, identity, and purpose.

Eternal peace with the Creator is the greatest gift we can receive this season.

May we all lean into and experience the peace of this reality throughout Advent and beyond.

2. Peace Within

There is so much to draw us or drag us away from the peace of Christ.

Fortunately, God also knows the unrest we feel within ourselves.

He made you and knows your deepest thoughts, hurts, joys, and desires.

He knows your need for peace within.

And He knows the broken world surrounding, pressing, and clamoring against us.

Paul offered us these appropriate words in

Philippians 4:6–7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.”

What a beautiful promise!

What a rich practice!

What a powerful peace that we can experience!

This passage says that God’s peace, “transcends all understanding.”

It defies our world and our circumstances.

It fills us when everything going on around us is not conducive to peace.

No matter how bad your situation, God is there . . . with you . . . offering the gift of His peace that is stronger than whatever difficulty you face.

Remember that God gave the gift of peace in the form of a person—Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Let us practice the power of peace in Advent and beyond as we look to a future eternity with Christ.

3. Peace to Come

So far, we have looked together at the gift of peace with God and peace within.

But what about peace without?

Like the situations we can’t change, the relationships that are broken, the chaos we can’t calm, the hurt we can’t heal, the violence we can’t understand? (violence on our news stations)

What do we do with the need for peace in our world?

Here again we should recognize the two-pronged nature of the Advent season.

First, we wait for Christ’s arrival at Christmas, and at the same time we wait for His return.

In other words, the peace we long for in our world is a peace that is still to come.

It is a final restoration promised but not yet realized.

In the meantime, we wait with longing for the day when God’s peace will reign in all the earth.

Until then, we can turn to the words that Jesus spoke to His disciples.

We can hold onto them closely until we see Him face-to-face.

“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” (John 16:33).

Again, we see God’s recognition of the brokenness we live in and among.

He knows.

He understands how and why we can become discouraged, but here He encourages us to remember the person of peace, the Prince of Peace.

In Him, we have and find and remember peace for our present and future.

Conclusion

There is peace for today, and there is a complete peace that is yet to come.

In the meantime , we trust in Jesus’s promise that He has indeed overcome the world.

And in the meantime, we return to Jesus.

It’s a process Paul described in Philippians 4.

It’s a continual returning and renewing with our Lord and our God.

It’s the deepening of our relationship with Him, and it shapes and holds us and carries us to all that we can experience because of Him.

Where is your chaos today?

Where is your warfare and unrest?

Let me encourage you that the Prince of Peace is greater.

His peace is more powerful.

As we celebrate the Advent season of waiting, let’s recognize that we wait for God’s peace to be made perfect in our world.

Let’s also remember that the peace of Christ is also here and now and available to us all.

Let’s pray together.

Salvation:

The Word of God says in: John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Romans 10:13 NKJV

For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you’d would like to receive Jesus today, please pray this prayer with all of us:

Lord I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He died On the cross for my sins and His resurrection from the dead gives me eternal life. I ask forgiveness of my sins, and I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Pastor [e-mail]

Church Office: 909-922-8090

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Benediction

“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” - John 16:33

We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it.” -Madeliene L’Engle (Lang ill)

Have a Great Week! Goodbye!