Countdown to Christmas: PEACE

Countdown To Christmas Peace

We are in our Christmas Series…Countdown to Christmas.  Last week I suggested Put some Hope in Your Christmas.  This week we are going to Countdown to Christmas Peace.

Last week I began the conversation with the idea of Advent…and how we are in this Advent season “Preparation for his appearing.”  In Latin I told you the word Advent meant “Arrival.” 

Many years ago, Jonna and the boys when they were home with us went to Hawaii and it was during December so all the Christmas stuff was on display…but it had a different feel to it…well one day we took a trip on the road to Hana…Hana is cool but anyone who has ever been knows the Road to Hana is where the Adventure truly is…

What if we reframed discipleship in light of Advent…what if Jesus was calling us to go on an Advent – Adventure with Him and not just know facts about Him…

• This word Adventure changes everything…
• Instead of the Christian life being an accumulation of facts about God that we call Discipleship…it would be seen as an Adventure with him…
• When you go on a trip or adventure with anyone you really get to know them up close and personal.

So, let’s image Hope, Peace, Joy and Love were adventures to be discovered with God and not destination or emotions, free from any anxiety or trouble. How many would like to go on an Adventure with Peace…?  Where you put your focus this Christmas Season will determine if you have peace or anxiety. Satan desires to take your Peace if you have it and keep it from you if you Don’t have it.

At the end of this service, we are Going to Lay Hands on You and Pray for Peace.

Luke 2:8-14, 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”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, goodwill toward men!”  NKJV

Isa 9:6-7, 6  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. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, ESV

Rom 14:17-18, 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. NKJV

John 14:27, 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. NKJV

1. Peace Defined
   1. Scripture says in Luke’s gospel…that men’s heart’s would fail them due to Fear…or the Absence of Peace.
      • The Medical field and those who work in it…would tell you that there are more people on Anxiety and lack of Peace drugs in America more than ever before.
      • People are afraid…and honestly our news cycles, politics, and even many Churches are Fear based instead of Peace Based.
      • It’s interesting Jesus was called the Prince of Peace…and so many say they have Jesus but Peace isn’t ruling in their lives.
   2. Peace defined is actually the absence of Chaos…
      • Now that can be revealed in several ways that we’ll discover.
      • John’s gospel says…there are two kinds of Peace…Jesus’ Peace or the Peace the World offers.
      • Peace
        • Shalom – used as a greeting in the Old Testament and still used today by Jewish People. To use Shalom as a greeting is to be interpreted as a relational word…
          • I am at peace with God, so therefore I can be at peace with you…
          • Shalom outside of relationship…misses the intent as well as the power of the Greeting.
          • Means – peace, completeness, welfare, health, and prosperity
          • Soteria – means “Salvation”…Peace is directly tied to Salvation.
          • Eirene – Inward silence and quietness, assurance in one’s life no matter the outward circumstances

If I simply put it…I’d sum up Peace is the End of Chaos in our minds, souls, spirit and in our relationships! The world’s peace is fragile, illusive, a circumstantial peace, that’s hard to get and easy to lose.

We were designed by God to live in this Atmosphere of the Kingdom that is known as Peace.  The Peace that is Biblical is a Heavenly Kingdom Peace.

1. Why Do We Need Jesus’ Peace? It’s How God Leads Us

Col 3:15, 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, ESV

• The word “Rule” means to Umpire as in situational guidance…not right verses wrong but guidance for the right verses the right.
• Most of us know right and wrong…it’s the good to great questions that cause us to struggle at times.

2. There is Protection in Peace

Phil 4:7, 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus., ESV

• To Guard: to be a watcher in advance,  post spies at gates…peace is like a spy at a gate who can see at a distance those things coming to steal your Peace.to fence in and protect…peace is like a fence to us…
• That’s the kind of Peace I need…how about you?

3. Purpose of our Influence

Luke 10:3-7, 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.  4 Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.  5 But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’  6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. NKJV

• You can be an influencer of peace….
• You can deposit peace in a home and change the atmosphere of a home by your presence…or should I say the Peace of God you carry in your own spirit.
• THAT’S WHY AT THE END OF OUR SERVICE WE ARE GOING TO LAY HANDS ON SOME OF YOU AND A DEPOSIT OF PEACE IS GOING TO BE IMPARTED TO YOU…

4. Identity is Found in Peace

• Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the Peace Makers for they shall be called the Sons of God.”
• Notice – “Peace makers are called Sons of God”
• “Sons” in vs 9 is reserved only to speak of Christ Jesus except in this place. Here scripture states you are never as much like Jesus as you are when you are “Making Peace”
• I told you Satan is after Your Peace. If Satan can rob us of our Peace, we will begin to question our Sonship – not just our relationship with God…but are we really His kids or are we just slaves to a religion? If we don’t have Peace, we won’t access what we have in Jesus

• Creativity is Part of the Kingdom of God…nothing will stifle and hinder creativity like stress, anxiety, and worry…Peace causes you and I to access Creativity.
  • Creative Ideas
  • Creative Thoughts
  • Creative Solutions

Jesus is called the Prince of Peace…it’s not just a title…IT IS AN ASSIGNMENT.

• How Do We Get Peace?
  1. First, we have to Acknowledge Peace is more than a feeling…it is a Person first and foremost.
     • It’s a cliché` but it is one worth noting: No Jesus No Peace; Know Jesus, Know Peace!
  2. Secondly, Submission to the Lord Jesus…
     • Peace is the Submission of Trust.
     • to get Gods peace you must submit your trust to him.
     • Trust in the good times as well as when we want to panic. We can choose to give into fears and panic or choose to trust God. This must be done each and every day, day in and day out through Faith Filled Prayer.

Phil 4:5-7, The Lord is at hand; 6  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ESV

Without Faith, Prayer is Griping in the Spirit, trying to get God to worry about what we are anxious about…It’s an indicator to us that we have not “cast our cares on the Lord because He cares for us.”

3. Thirdly, A Godward Mindset: Isa 26:3, 3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. NKJV

(The intentionality and the intent of STAYING…to take hold of…this is our responsibility…God will not take hold of peace for you…he gives peace…then we have to take hold of it…)

Illustration:  (Take out a $100 and say this is a gift to someone who will receive it…then they have to take hold of it…)

Rom 8:5-6, 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace ESV

4. Fourthly, A Daily Relationship with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is to the Emotions what Oil is to the Engine of our cars. Romans says…the Kingdom of God is Righteousness, Peace and Joy…where…in the Holy Ghost. In the Realm of the Spirit.

5. Fifthly, is Praise and Worship. Luke 2:16 “And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.” NKJV. “Found” in this verse means after a search. They knew what they were looking for…but it still required a search. Sometimes Praise and Worship is a Search and Adventure looking for the Atmosphere of Heaven…we know when we found it…because peace is wrapped up in our pursuit of searching for him.

Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” NKJV

Listen to this Announcement during this Christmas Season…It’s an Announcement and Proclamation from the Kingdom of God to our World….On Earth…Peace…Goodwill toward men. Can I conclude it this way and then we are going to pray for some people…?

God is in a Good Mood and He is Proclaiming Peace over all of Us who will Receive it.  I Think We Should Countdown to Christmas in Our Lives with Peace and go on an Adventure with Peace!

Matt 10:12-14, 12 As you enter the house, greet it.  13 And if the house is worthy, (due a reward why…why are they due a reward? Because they didn’t just receive the Apostles into their home…they gave the Message the Apostles carried a place in their home…if you have given a place for the Good News of Jesus a Place in your home…not just church…you are due a reward…and that reward is peace)  let your peace (peace here is joined to prosperity) (Jude 1:3 – I would that you prosper and be in health, even as your soul [mind, will and emotions] prospers.)  Let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy (if the message of Jesus Christ and the Good News hasn’t been taken into their home) let your peace return to you.  14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. ESV