PEACE (Advent 2021-03)
Notes
Transcript
Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!
INTRO—
INTRO—
Ever had a rough night’s sleep? Tossed and turned…your mind unable to settle down? OR, have you ever gone through a time in your life where you were just stressed, upset, worried…to the point of making yourself sick?
Maybe something like this?…
An old British pastor was often besieged by dreams of his former life, separate from God. He spoke of being tormented by ghosts of the many people he had wronged throughout the course of his earlier life. He would often say he could remember many of their names— “their beautiful African names.”
You see, this pastor had formerly run from his family’s—namely his Mom’s—instruction and encouragement to live a life trusting and honoring Jesus. He ran so far that he eventually took a job on a slave trading ship, and within a few years he worked his way to being captain of a slave ship. Then, one stormy journey, his mind was drawn back to Scripture his Mom had taught him from Proverbs, for this young man the important reminder was, “Because I have called, and ye refused . . . ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also laughed at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh: when your fear cometh as desolation and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer." This reminder began the transformation which saw John Newton turn to Christ as Savior and Lord…turn to serving God’s people through the local church…and turn to being a significant voice in the abolition of the slave trade and slavery in Britain.
Our Lord moved him from a life of turmoil to a life of peace…even though he would wrestle with his past from time to time, Newton could also proclaim with confidence to the end of his life, “My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things: That I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior."
John Newton’s life became an amazing picture of this wonderful truth: Isaiah 26.3 “You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you.”
So, let’s turn to the pages of Scripture to hear the voice of God speak…PEACE! As we begin—PEACE at the first biblical Christmas:
PEACE, The First Christmas
PEACE, The First Christmas
“Don’t Be Afraid”…The Angels proclaimed four times that first Christmas…
Zechariah - Luke 1.5-25 [DBA=v. 13]
13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.
Joseph - Matthew 1.18-21, & 24-25 [DBA=v. 20]
18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. 20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus.
Mary - Luke 1.26-38 [DBA=v. 30]
26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 30 Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” 34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” 35 The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 “See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
Shepherds - Luke 2.8-14 [DBA=v. 10]
8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!
True PEACE
True PEACE
From Jesus...
Luke 2.13-14 “Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!”
Isaiah 9.6 “For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
Unbelievable PEACE…
Philippians 4.7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
…is PEACE for…
Facing death…
Luke 1.78-79 “Because of our God’s merciful compassion, the dawn from on high will visit us to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
[Psalm 23.4 “Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.”]
Revelation 21.4 “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.”
Unity… (in Christ; racially…)
Ephesians 2.14-17 “For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death. He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.”
CONCL—
CONCL—
John 14.27-29 ““Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful. You have heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you may believe.”
Believe (thank you Josh Groban!)…Faith in Jesus Christ to save…even a captain of a slave trading ship…to become a pastor…an advocate of justice…and a writer of significantly encouraging hymns— “Amazing Grace!”
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.