God Promises Peace

INTRO

Scripture: Luke 2:8–14; Isaiah 9:6–7; Romans 8:6–7

I want to welcome you all today as we continue in our Advent sermon series: The Promise. Advent is the season that prepares us to celebrate the coming of Jesus, it focuses on four different themes: hope, peace, joy, and love. The Church has traditionally seen these themes as the true gifts of Christmas that come from the arrival of Jesus Christ in the form of a baby in a manger. Last week, we took a look at the first theme of hope. We discovered a man named Simeon, who had faithfully waited on the arrival of the promised Savior. We learned that our waiting is not in idleness, but rather it is an active preparation - filled with hope. Today, we are turning our attention to the second theme of Advent, which is peace. And we will focus on another group in the nativity story – the shepherds.

Who remembers the must-have Christmas toy of the mid 90s?

In 1996, Tickle Me Elmo inventory ran out after the Thanksgiving shopping weekend and it started the craze of the season. The giggling Elmo retailed for $28.99, was being re-sold by scalpers in newspapers and on the Internet for up to $1,500. Parents and Grandparents went crazy fighting in stores, chasing delivery trucks, and stampeding over stock clerks just to put an Elmo under the tree.

This year, Galactic Snackin’ Grogu may be the hot new toy, but hopefully not causing the insanity of 25 years ago. Is Grogu on anyone’s shopping list?

The expected joy and peace of the Christmas season is so often contrasted with the anger and frustration on display in the human spirit. Every family wants to experience peace at Christmas but all too often, conflict is found instead.

Much of the Bible is written by people who found themselves in the midst of conflict and struggle as well. In fact, much of the Old Testament is a story of the people of God who are under siege by surrounding nations, exiled to foreign countries, or enslaved to powerful empires. The Old Testament writers often were crying out for God to bring them peace. One of the prophetic promises in the book of Isaiah addressed the need for a new leader who would come and be the “prince of peace.” They believed that God was faithful and that He always kept His promises, and so they eagerly waited for God to send rescue.

READ Isaiah 9:6–7

Isaiah 9:6–7 ESV

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

The promise of God that is penned by Isaiah is for a coming ruler who would usher in a new government that will have no end. There will be a child who is born, a son, who will be a wonderful counselor, a mighty God, an everlasting father, and a prince of peace. This was not the reality at the time of its writing, but it gave hope and peace to the Jewish people and reminded them that God had not forgotten about them.

Story: It is no secret that we live in a time where there is little peace around us. We can watch the news for just a few minutes and see that all around the world there is struggle and pain and fear. We see it in the lack of water and food in far-off countries. We see it in the unrest and division in our country. We see it in global pandemics and wars. Sometimes we see it closer to home in our own families when people are at odds with one another. These are all reminders that we live in a broken world. Whether far or near, we can relate to the people of God’s desire for there to be one who would rule over all and bring order to the chaos and healing to the brokenness.

We long to see peace come to the world and we long to see God fulfill His promise of one who will rule with love and compassion. Hundreds of years later, God’s promise came. But the first people to hear about it are a bit of a surprise.

READ Luke 2:8–12

Luke 2:8–12 ESV

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

In a field outside of Bethlehem, there was a group of shepherds who were watching their flocks of sheep during the night. Now typically, when we think about the shepherds in the Christmas story, we think about cute little boys with a staff and a robe wrapped around them. The shepherds of the ancient Near East were anything but cute. Shepherds were seen as some of the lowest of the low in Jewish society. They were a nomadic group who would live off-grid and travel far and wide to find green pasture for their sheep to graze in. They were single young men without children. They were not clean. They probably did not smell very good. They were a blue-collar crowd who worked hard and long to earn a living. They were considered second-class and untrustworthy. And yet, God chose these simple men to be the first people to hear the birth announcement of the long-awaited one.

POINT #1: THE PEACE OF CHRIST IS FOR EVERYONE.

There is a sense from the very beginning of this Christmas story that the hope, peace, joy, and love that arrive with the birth of Christ is not just for the powerful and perfected. The child who is born is for everybody everywhere. The peace that will come with His leadership and rule is not for the ones who are already in power, but for the ones who are scratching and clawing just to make it another day. If you don’t feel like you are worthy of the peace that is found in Jesus, just know you are in good company. This message of peace is for you.

An angel of the Lord appears to these men out in the fields. Their first response is absolute terror. They are fearful because the glory of the Lord shines around them in the dead of night. It must have been an overwhelming experience. But look at the first words that are spoken to them: “Do not be afraid.”

The first words spoken over the shepherds, and I believe over us today, are words of peace: Do not be afraid. Though you may be facing a painful situation, do not be afraid. You may be facing an unfavorable diagnosis; do not be afraid. You may be struggling to restore a relationship; do not be afraid. You may be anxious about the circumstances that swirl all around you; do not be afraid.

Here is why—the angel says that he has good news of great joy for all people.

When someone says “I have good news and bad news.” Which one do you want to hear first?” I always want to answer: I only want one of them, the good news. But, because we usually don’t have a choice, I want the good news last. When we have good news to hang onto, we know that there is still hope.

Maybe you could use some good news today because your spirit does not know real peace. In the arrival of Jesus Christ, we are given good news. The good news is this: you have not been forgotten by God. In fact, He has come to be with you in the midst of your struggle. He was born in the city of David, and He is the Messiah and the Lord. He is in charge. He is King. He is the one you have been waiting for.

POINT #2: PEACE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF CONFLICT; IT IS THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

The peace that Jesus brings into our lives is not necessarily the absence of trouble, but instead it is the confidence that we are not alone. The kind of peace that comes with the fulfilled promise of old looks different from what we may have expected.

Many of us have experienced severe health problems, lost loved ones, struggled with money when the bills outweighed the bank balances, lost jobs, spiraled into depression. And yet when we bring these problems to God we can experience peace that goes beyond our comprehension.

True peace can be experienced in the midst of the chaotic when we recognize that peace is not about our immediate circumstances, it is about the sovereign God who is faithful to walk with us through even the most difficult times.

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

That first Christmas morning, the angels bring good news. A child has been born in the town of David, and He will be a better king who will rule and bring peace. Luke is borrowing from the prophetic promise in Isaiah and keying in on a time when the nation of Israel knew peace. The angel is referring to a time when David was king. You might call it “the good ole days.” This was a time that every Israelite wanted to see as a reality once again.

This time, however, it would be even better than David. This time the baby who would be found wrapped in cloth and lying in a manger was the God of the universe, who had moved into the neighborhood to live among them. The peace would not come from a mortal man, but from the divine. As soon as this announcement is made, the good news inspires song.

READ Luke 2:13–14

Luke 2:13–14 ESV

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

The angels’ song ends by saying that peace will come to those on whom God is well pleased or in another translation on whom His favor rests. So, if you want to know peace? Then you need to know how to receive God’s favor. How to please God.

POINT #3: GOD’S FAVOR COMES FROM BEING AT PEACE WITH GOD.

The story of the Bible reveals that the most important place where we need to experience peace is not within the relationships and circumstances around us. The greatest need for peace is between us and a Holy God. The book of Romans tells us that the rule that governs over us most is the rule of sin, and it stirs chaos and conflict within us.

Cindi read Romans 8 for us earlier. What does it say about finding life and peace?

READ Romans 8:6–7

Romans 8:6–7 ESV

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

The mind focused on the world will be in chaos. We find life and peace when we submit to God and obey Him. When our thoughts are focused on Him.

The good news is God’s Peace. Here is the bad news - We all find ourselves lost in sin, our spirits are at odds with God. Our sin separates us from a holy God. We don’t submit to Him and we won’t submit to Him because we think we know better. Isn’t this the headwaters of every conflict that we face? Are we not at war with one another and harming one another because, in the end, we think we know what is best? Usually what’s best for me!

The birth of this promised king is the coming of a new rule for the entire world, and that rule begins inside each and every one of our hearts. This baby grew up to be a man who offered Himself on the cross as atonement or payment for our sins. The peace that we find at Christmas comes from submitting to the leadership of Jesus Christ. It reorients our hearts, and it makes us friends of God. So, though the world may be in chaos around us, we find a comfort and a confidence in knowing that we have been made right with God through the blood of Jesus and that He is with us. His presence in our lives brings us peace.

Maybe today you recognize that the reason there is no peace in your heart is because you have not made peace with God. That peace is available to you today. Because of God’s grace, we can, in faith, trust Jesus with all parts of our lives. Christ’s message was to repent of your sins and be forgiven so you will be ready for the Kingdom – ready for a relationship with God.

In Ephesians 2 we read: we had no hope and were without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus we have been brought near to God by Jesus’ blood. He himself is our peace who has made us both one and has brought down the dividing wall of hostility between God and man.

I want to encourage you today, if you’ve never trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior to begin that relationship with Him and truly know the peace of God. Come talk to me after the service or contact me through the church if you’re watching on-line.

If you are already a believer, are you trying to find peace in the people around you? Or maybe in the things you hope can protect you? Just like Hope, peace can only be found in the person of Jesus Christ. Are you growing deeper in your relationship with Him? Are you letting His peace protect your thoughts?

BENEDICTION:

May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. It’s in the name of the Prince of Peace, Jesus I pray. Amen.