Advent - Peace

Linus Video

It’s an interesting Christmas episode of Charlie Brown. And if you’re not looking for it, you can miss something incredibly significant that happens in the video. I wasn’t a huge Charlie Brown fan growing up - we didn’t watch or read much of their stuff - but one thing I have learned is a little about the character, Linus. Linus van Pelt is the best friend of Charlie Brown & the younger brother of Lucy. You almost never see Linus without his security blanket. Often times he’s found sucking his thumb - A rather insecure young lad.

But as he shares with Charlie Brown about the real meaning of Christmas, when he says, And the angel said unto them, “Fear not!”, he drops the one thing that helps him to feel safe - his security blanket. You see, Charles Shulz was sending a message to all who would watch - (Fear not, don’t worry, don’t be insecure). For the angel was joined by a vast host of “the armies of heaven” praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

You see, I don’t know how much PEACE we are experiencing here on earth. You watch the news, read the paper, listen to the radio, check the media outlets and we can quickly be discouraged & work ourselves into a frenzy.

The opposite of peace is: conflict, violence, disturbance, war, agony, distress, unrest, rage, fighting, discord, anxiety, disagreement, frustration, chaos, tumult, disorder, worry. We have plenty of this today in the world with which we live - Border security, Accusations of racism & sexism, Massive drug epidemic, Earthquakes, Government shutdowns, Seasame Street controversy for goodness sakes!

I don’t hear it so much any more, but we went through a time when “peace” was just a slogan.

What this world needs more than anything else is PEACE… WRONG… What this world needs more than anything else is JESUS.

And when you KNOW Jesus the way that God wants you to know Jesus

And when you TRUST Jesus the way that God wants you to trust Jesus

And when you GIVE YOUR LIFE to Jesus the way that God wants you to

And when you HAVE THE PERSPECTIVE about Jesus the way that God wants

...you will possess THE peace, not a peace, that only comes through Jesus.

Let me just begin one chapter ahead of where we are going to be this morning, & show you the perspective I speak of. It comes from this guy named Paul who God radically transformed. Paul, by human standards, was an amazing individual. And as amazing as he was (and he knew he was special), here’s his perspective after coming to know Jesus...

Followed Jewish tradition

(NLT)

7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.

8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ

The prerequisite to PEACE is simply Jesus

So as Paul, who’s writing to the Philippian church, begins to wrap up his letter to them, he gets pretty specific. He calls out two women - You-O-dia & Cent-i-key. He pleads with them, because you are followers of Jesus, get over it, man! “Settle your disagreement!”

Likely it’s not just two women, but as disagreements can go - people take sides. And so Paul is likely not just addressing two individuals - he’s addressing two groups of people within the church to settle things.

Is there a disagreement that needs settled in your life? Is there a relationship that’s splintered? Are you holding a grudge? If you’re a follower of Jesus; If you belong to the Lord; If you’re a part of the family of God; I believe Paul’s words were not only for these two women, but there’s application for us today!

Chapter two of Philippians says...

(NLT)

1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?

2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

And then he gives this incredible example of the humility of Christ & he strips everyone, all of us, from any prideful excuse we might cling on to .

4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!

5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

That brings us to our text this morning on the topic of peace.

If someone would walk up to you and say, “Don’t worry.” Your natural response would be - “About what?” Well, I’m glad you asked because Paul says, “About anything.” Now I don’t know about you, but that’s a bold statement.

Ok… If we take that at face value - Don’t worry about anything - Well, what are we supposed to do? If we don’t worry, what should we do instead? Paul answers that question - pray! Paul says, “Pray about everything.”

Ok… So, don’t worry about anything and pray about everything. Well, what should our prayers sound like? What should we pray? Paul says, “Tell God what you need...” In other words - Pour your hearts out to God. Some might say, cry out to him. Even though He knows what we need before we know what we need, He still wants us to tell him. He’s such a relational God. It’s full disclosure; it’s confession; it’s making our dependency on God clear; When we pray, we move toward God

He also says our prayers should not only be pouring our needs out to God, but they should also be filled with “Thanks” for all he has done. It’s hard to be in an attitude of worry, doubt, & fear when you are praising and thankful. Even in the worst of times, can you think of something to be grateful for?

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter to the Philippians B. Rejoice in the Lord (4:4–9)

Without thanksgiving, prayer becomes merely a way of complaining to God

One commentator wrote, “Without thanksgiving, prayer becomes merely a way of complaining to God...”

(NLT)

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

THEN… YOU... WILL...

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

His peace is so good… we can’t even comprehend it. So what does the Bible say about peace?

John 14:27 NLT

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

John 14:27

(NLT)

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

(NLT)

1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

(NLT)

2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

M. R. Vincent said, “Peace is the fruit of believing in prayer.”

Prayer team?