Peace, Peace, Wonderful Peace

Something we love to do in our family is take a drive and get hot chocolate and look at the Christmas lights. It is such a nice thing to enjoy together. It is a nice time to decompress, enjoy family time and it is peaceful. You feel the excitement, wonder and anticipation of the season.

There are often times that when we see a nativity scene someone is quick to get everyone to see it because you don’t seem to see those too often.

One of the things I love about Christmas is the nativity scenes. And one of the things I love about nativity scenes is that they are so peaceful. It’s hard to imagine a more peaceful looking scene than Joseph and Mary with their newborn child surrounded by sheep and shepherds under the midnight sky.

We even sing about it in one of the most peaceful Christmas carols ever written: “Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright. Round yon virgin, mother and Child, Holy Infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.”

We all long for peace in our lives, and yet peace is sadly lacking in our world. People are full of worry and anxiety. Relationships are full of conflict and stress. The world is full of conflict and wars.

But that’s where Jesus comes in. Because Jesus is not only our hope at Christmas, he is also our peace. And it is only in Christ that we will ever truly obtain peace on earth.

So that is what the Advent Candle of Peace is all about today. Part of the Christmas story, part of the Christmas message is that Jesus brings us peace.

This morning as we have been focusing on the names of Christ, we have been reminded that at the mention of His name peace comes in and floods our soul.

Jesus came to bring peace to the world.

Luke 2:8-20 was read by the Penney family. We heard the account of the shepherds. Why were the shephers chosen by God?

I believe it was because they were lowly, they were unknown, and obscure. The angel appeared to them to announce the birth of Jesus, they responded with simple faith and came to worship the babe and went on their way telling the good news.

Do we look at the account of the birth of Christ as some tradition that is carried out each year this time? Or do we sincerely accept the message and true purpose for Christ’s coming to earth?

The shepherd’s lives were changed forever that night. And unless the Christmas story changes our lives too we have missed its real meaning and purpose for us.

This morning we will look at:

The Shepher’s retreat

The Angel’s report

The Angel’s rejoicing

The Shepherd’s reponse

Prayer: May the scripture and message this morning saturate the hearts of those who hear it and let the prince of peace take hold of their lives.

I. The Shepherd's Retreat vs.8

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

It is night time in the hills of Judea.  These hardworking shepherds are looking after their flocks, keeping an eye out for predators and potential dangers for the flock.

It is a time of peace and quiet for the shepherds as well as the sheep.  The labours and physical toil of the day are behind them, it is a reflective and restful time.  And it was in the stillness of the night that God chose to send His messenger to reveal the birth of Christ to this band of shepherds.  A time when He would have their full and undivided attention.

Isn’t it often in those times of quiet and stillness that the Lord will come to us?

We may be laid up in a bed of sickness or injury. 

Illus:  Mom was in ICU last January and had a really rough night and felt alone. It was at that time when she said she saw Jesus walk in her room and made her feel all was calm and she was able to rest and go to sleep. He touched her and made her feel better.

It may be that we need to schedule some quiet time. 

On a daily basis.

On certain occasions.

Just as the body needs a time to rest so we need that time of spiritual retreat.   Time to get away from the busyness and noise of life and allow God to speak to our hearts.

II. The Angel's Report vs.9-12

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

In the stillness and quiet of the night the shepherds watch their sheep, when, without warning they are confronted by a heavenly visitor, an angel of the Lord, and surrounded by the glory (the brightness) of the Lord.

Needless to say, the shepherds were frightened.  What could this heavenly visitor want?  Had they displeased God?  Did the Lord have some special mission for them?  Were they dreaming?

The angel immediately put their fears to rest, and their hearts at ease by saying, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."

FEAR NOT

What great words of comfort!  Nearly 100 times in the Bible we find the words "Fear not" or "Be not afraid".

To Mary – Luke 2:30 “....Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

To Joseph – Matthew 1:20 “....Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Now to the Shepherds

The Lord knows we have fears.  It might be a financial fear, it may be we have some real enemies, it might have to do with our family or our health, it may be related to our walk with the Lord.  But in every case our fears can be calmed if we will put our confidence in God.

Psalm 118:6 NLT

The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?

Why did the shepherds have nothing to fear?   Because of.....

GOOD TIDINGS

The angel's announcement is good news.  The good news is the Gospel.  It is explained in vs.11

1. The Good News is Personal

For unto you....

John 3:16 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 10:13 NIV

for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

I'm so glad that I'm a "whosoever."

2. The Good News is Present

...is born this day....

No more waiting, no need to delay, Christ is born today.

What are you waiting for?

2 Corinthians 6:2 NIV

For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

3. The Good News is Practical

A Saviour....

This is mankind's greatest need, and that need has been met through the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

4. The Good News is a fulfilment of Prophecy

...which is Christ the Lord...

He is the Messiah, the annointed One of Israel.  The Saviour who had been prophesied of in the OT and long awaited.

TO ALL PEOPLE

All nations, all walks of life, all classes.  This announcement came to shepherds.  If it had come to kings, noblemen or dignitaries some might doubt that it really was for all people.  But it came to the blue collar group, these humble shepherds.

III. The Angel's Rejoicing vs.13-14

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, good will toward men.

As soon as the angel had finished his announcement he was surrounded by a vast multitude of angels, a heavenly choir, and they praised God loudly.

WHY?

1. Jesus birth brought Glory to God.

2. Jesus birth brought Peace to mankind.

Not initially peace between the nations, but peace within the hearts of those who receive Him.

From time of Christ till now (2000 years) the world has only had peace for eighty of those years.

Dozens of wars have happened.

There were those in OT Israel.....who proclaimed peace.

Jeremiah 6:14 NIV

They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace.

It is clear that we as people cannot establish peace in the long term. God can though.

Just who established the Nobel Peace Prize? And what brought on the idea?

Alfred Nobel, a Swedish scientist, patented 355 inventions, including artificial silk and leather. To him, "a day without any new idea was a day wasted!" But he received his real fame and fortune in 1866 when he invented dynamite.

In 1888 a newspaper in Paris made a mistake in reporting the death of Alfred's brother, Ludvig. Mistaking one brother for the other, the headline read: "The merchant of death is dead." Faced with this shameful death announcement, Alfred longed to change how others viewed him. He wanted to have a different legacy.

So the Peace Prize was born out of Nobel's frustration and desire to rewrite his own death notice. At the end of his life, the conscience stricken Nobel sought to "pay for'damages done" as best he could by using his fiery fortune of 6 million dollars to promote life instead of destroying it.

Nobel Peace Prize winners have taken us only a tiny distance on the road to peace.

There will not be permanent peace until Jesus Christ rules and reigns on this earth during His one-thousand-year earthly reign.

Then, and only then, will there be peace on earth.

Weapons of war will be turned into farming tools

Isaiah 2:4 NIV

He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

The animal kingdom will be at peace, too: "The wolf and the lamb shall feed together"

Isaiah 65:25 NIV

The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.

And little children will play with wild animals

Isaiah 11:6–9 NIV

The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Everyone will enjoy long life

Isaiah 65:20 NIV

“Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.

King Jesus, the Prince of Peace, will then rule this peaceful world. "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end" Isaiah 9:6,7).

The Peacemaker Himself will compose a new harmonious earth. Our own hopeless search for peace will be "called off." What a day. peaceful day, that will be!

WHAT ABOUT NOW?

We can only have peace through Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1 NIV

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

Philippians 4:7 NIV

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

The Shepherd's Response vs.15-16

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

1. An Immediate Response

"Let us now go..." vs.15;  "And they came with haste..." vs.16

That little word now speaks volumes as to the priority and the urgency with which they viewed their need to go to Bethlehem to see the Saviour.

NOW - While we have the opportunity (Christ is so close, He is in the same country) we may not have another chance.

Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

II Cor. 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

NOW - While it is fresh in our hearts and minds. 

There is no time like the present to make your decision for the Lord. 

Respond when the Lord is dealing with you.  It never gets easier later on. 

Illus:  People will leave a church service under conviction or turn away at the door without making a decision, even though they know they should.

NOW - While we could be doing other things.  "Who will take care of the sheep?

Theirs was not only an immediate response, but it was also ......

2. A Believing Response

"And see this thing which is come to pass."

Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Conclusion:

The Shepherd's Return vs. 17 & 20

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Having seen the infant Saviour, the shepherds hearts were overflowing with excitement and joy.  They had to tell others as they returned to their flocks.  They could not keep it in.

Think about this:

What has Christ done for you? 

Why keep it to yourself?

TELL EVERYONE

This is a funny story to tell you at this point of the messsage but indulge me this morning.

I want to tell you a strange thing about an ant.  An ant has four pairs of ears: a pair in the head, a pair in the front feet, a pair in the thorax, a pair in the abdomen. 

When one ant meets another ant, she will lay down whatever she has and the second ant will not pick up anything that belongs to another ant.  That is remarkable. 

She takes her front feet and feels the head of the second ant and she tells that second ant where she found this bread or this sugar. 

The scout gets in your pantry, she gets some sugar and starts off.  She lays it down and tells every ant she meets where she found that sugar.  It isn't long until the whole outfit is coming into your kitchen. 

What a lesson there is for us, a lesson for honesty.  Don't take what belongs to somebody else.  And second, tell the story of God's grace--tell where you found the honey, tell where you found the Living Water, the Living Bread.  Tell what you found in Jesus Christ.  Tell them what a difference He has made in your life. Shout it loud so all can hear the message of this life changing God we love, know and serve - our redemmer, our savior, our prince of peace.