Untitled Sermon (3)

Series Intro

It’s the weekend after Thanksgiving and you know what that means? It’s officially the Christmas season! It’s time for us to bring out the Christmas decorations from storage, turn up the Christmas music and watch our favorite Hallmark Christmas movies. Don’t judge me, some of those are really good!

Unlike those Christmas activities, we know that this year, some of our traditions are going to be changing. From Christmas parties with family and friends to work parties, Secret Santa and all the rest, for many things are going to be different this year.

Take heart, there some things about the Christmas season that never change. Like the promises of love, joy, peace and hope that are promised to us in the greatest present of all, the gift of God’s son Jesus. For the next four weeks, Pastor Tim and I will be looking into each of these promises as we lead up to Christmas Even and our celebration of the birth of Christ.

Intro

Today, think with me about that simple word “peace”. What comes to mind when you hear that word?

The 60’s?

Standing in an empty field of flowers

A world where there is no more wars

Peace is one of those simple yet complex concepts to grasp. It’s easy to visualize/dream about but extremely hard to experience in our day to day lives. What was your day like today?

COVID

Election results

Financial pressures

Relationships issues

Physical ailments

All of the things I listed are anything but peaceful and every day is filled with it’s own share of them. Now, this may all seem silly to you. You might just be thinking: Jon, life isn’t suppose to be easy, life isn’t a bed of roses, you have to embrace pain if you want to succeed. I get all of that, I really do. But come on, haven’t you every once in a while said to yourself, “When will it all be over. COVID, family hostility, the bills, the struggles in life.”

Question: When can we finally stop and find peace?

Peace, not because we have conquered every enemy, overcame every obstacle or reached the pinnacle of our career. All of those victories are fleeting, for new enemies are born every day, new obstacles are just around the corner and there is only one way left when you are at the top, it’s down. But where in this life can we just find peace, where we can relax, let our guard down and simply enjoy life.

Transition: My first reaction when I think this way and maybe yours, is to grab more control over my life. It’s seems only natural if we are to achieve the results we want. That leads us to the first step in finding peace, it’s realizing that

I. Life Is Beyond Our Control

“Peace on earth” (Luke 2:14 - KJV)

Luke 2:14 KJV 1900

Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men.

What was the world like during Jesus’ day?

At it’s core, life in Jesus’ day was not much different from the world we live in now

Jesus was born during a time of relative peace (Pax Romana - Roman Peace) - a long period of time where the land surrounding the Mediterranean was at peace and all under Roman law.

Life was stable with increased prosperity for most people, trade was strong and infrastructure was being built throughout the empire.

At the same time, life during the Pax Romana was also full of uncertainty

Rome ruled with a heavy hand. There was law but it was harsh and strict. Take for example how:

Tax collection was permitted to be unjust

Officials wielded terrifying amounts of power (Matthew 2 - Herod kills all the male babies in Bethlehem + its vicinity <2yrs.)

Perceived resistance/civil disobedience was dealt with harshly (Jerusalem destroyed - A.D. 70)

This sounds less like a time of peace and more like allowing the bully in school to be the teacher

To this world that the Angels announced these words at Jesus’ birth (NIV)

Luke 2:14 TNIV

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Same proclamation of “peace”

Direct recipients of this peace were - “upon whom his favor rests”

Listen to the difference -

Different than a blanket “peace on earth”

Understanding this phrase is the key to helping us realize why we are unsuccessful at controlling our own lives

Jesus had come for a bigger purpose than simply a peaceful life - Pax Romana

Titles

Luke 2:8–13 TNIV

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Savior” = Implies that someone needs rescuing/help

“Messiah” (Christ) = Long awaited Chosen One of Israel’s history who would come to rescue/redeem God’s people from their enemies

“Lord” = God Himself (Jehovah)

Transition: Jesus was more than a prophet or judge. Jesus was God in the flesh. He had come to rescue His people, His creation, us because we need rescuing. We have all, in our own ways rejected God, by trying to run (control) our life our own way without Him. But the sad truth is that, in rejecting God and His way, we have made a mess not only of our own lives but of our society and the world.

Take a moment and think about your past. What are some of the bad decisions you have made and what were the consequences? Who are the people you have hurt, the lives that you have damaged, the brokenness that you have left in your wake? That right there should be proof enough to you that Life Is Beyond Our Control and certainly not with any level of continued success.

Yet, while we were trudging along, taking life by the horns with ourselves in control, God has been working to teach us a very humbling truth.

Jesus Is The Only True Source Of Peace In This Life

Peace For Our Soul - “Peace with God”

We all have a certain persona that we like to give off:

Strong, confident, gentle, meek (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter - filters, selfie’s, masks)

We like to control/determine what people think about us

What if I were to tell you that there is someone who knows you for who you really are (the real you . . . deep down)

This is who He knows you to be

Romans 5:6–8 TNIV

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

"Powerless . . . ungodly . . . sinners” = This is how God sees us as we attempt to live our lives our own way without Him

Despite this, God loved you by sending Christ to die for you

Let’s take a look at this love in more detail - there you are Christian!

Romans 5:1–2 TNIV

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. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

“Justified” = Declared righteous, holy, blameless before God!

“Peace with God” (prόs)

Restored relationship with God (enemy - friend/family)

Carries shades of meaning we are not used to today

“It’s more than ‘You-and-me-and-God standing near each other”

An active word “implying deliberate motion or direction”

Few trusted 19th-century Bible translations translate this word:

“We have peace toward God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Young’s Literal Translation, 1898)

We lashed-out in defiance and disobedience, not knowing why our choices keep blowing up in our face.

Why at night, when we pillow our heads, our soul is not at peace

Meanwhile, God the Father refuses to retaliate, waiting instead for us to come to Him, made possible through Jesus

Application: No more games, no more filters, no more masks. Be real and admit to who we are on our own.. Admit our mistakes, our failures and our shames, acknowledging that Christ died on the Cross for our disobedience to God’s ways. But when you do that, you are no longer an enemy of God but have peace with him. You have an opportunity to trust Christ by believing that His sacrifice pay the penalty for your sin, you can have “peace with God”.

Peace For Our Soul - “Peace with God”

Daily Peace Amidst The Uncertainty Of Life - “Peace of God”

Context of Philippians 4

A follower of Jesus named Paul is writing to a church be founded in the Greek city of Philippi

Chapter 4 - Closing Thoughts

vs. 1-3 - Paul address specific individuals within the church of Philippi

vs. 4 - Joy

vs. 5 - Gentleness

vs. 6-7 - (2) great opposing forces of following Jesus - Anxiety vs. Peace

Philippians 4:6 TNIV

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

“Do not be anxious about anything”

Anxiety, worry, uneasiness, these are all natural human reactions

Causes (many reasons)

Family history/genetic disposition

Certain type of personalities are more likely to have anxiety

Ongoing stressful events

Childhood traumas

Boils down to a Lack of Control (feeling) - Personal Experience

Not the legitimate anxiety caused by care and concerns for others/spreading of the Gospel

The type of anxiety Paul is speaking of here is the counterproductive and self-centered kind

Instead, we are called to trust God and pray

Regularly - “In every situation”

Thankfully - Not as a ‘last resort’, not with a ‘I have to’ but with an ‘I get to’ attitude

Pray for “regular” events of the day and then pray “petitions”, urgent requests to specific need

Transition: Look at what happens as a result:

Philippians 4:7 TNIV

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

We will experience the “peace of God”

An inner tranquility, the opposite of anxiety

A peace that will guard our

“Hearts” = Seat of our emotions

“Minds” = Thoughts

Requirement - We must give all of our cares to God

1 Peter 5:7 TNIV

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

We must learn to surrender everyone and everything to God, including ourselves, to God.

Letting go of things that are beyond our sphere of influence, trusting that God’s ways are best.

Quote: We “can achieve the peace and order [we] seek only by making a place within [one’s] heart and within your daily life for the grace of God to take root. Divine grace [peace] is freely given, but God will not force us to receive it. It takes constant effort on our part to get out of God’s way and let His grace heal us and change us.” - Benedictine Monk Illustration: Moving from PCC to Dugspur.

Conclusion

I share that story with you to bring home the reality that Life Really Is Beyond Our Control. No matter how hard we try, we will never be able to control our lives like we want. Jesus Is The Only True Source of Peace In This Life.

Peace for the Soul through Jesus’ death and resurrection (Peace with God)

God’s Will For You you admit that you cannot live this life your own way without God? That you need His grace and forgiveness found in the Gospel?

Daily Amidst The Uncertainty Of Life - “Peace of God”

Will you daily trust God to lead you in this life? Do you pray before you act, not relying on instinct or skill but first and foremost relying on God and His Spirit to lead you?

This is the type of peace that Jesus is offering each of us today. The only question that remains is, how will you respond to what God is offering?

John 14:27 TNIV

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.