The Gift: Peace

Nick

Christmas Series • Sermon • Submitted 5 months ago • Presented 5 months ago

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-Christmas Party Highlights!

-Christmas Caroling tonight @6pm!!

-Food Pantry & Mudd ES collection bins

-Christmas eve service @10am

-New years eve service (no morning service) we will be having a watch night service Sunday night @10:30PM.

Im excited to continue this series we kicked off last week! “The Gift” we all love getting gets and giving gifts. Especially during the Christmas season. Most of the time these gifts are temporal and have costed us something financially. In this series we are going to be unpacking the greatest gift of all time....Jesus, but we are going to look even deeper into how He offers us some particular gifts. The gifts of Hope, Love, Peace, and Joy

So fare we have hit on how Jesus has brought us the gift of hope and love…:

Biblical hope is all about God’s faithfulness. His past faithfulness motivates the hope for the future. Looking forward by looking back.

The gift of love that Jesus brings is not merely a theoretical concept but a deeply personal experience. When we open our hearts to Him, we encounter a love that forgives, heals, and redeems. His love has the power to bring peace to our souls, joy to our hearts, and hope to our circumstances.

Read John 14:26–28 “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you. “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.”

PRAY!!

What is Peace Section:

-The word peace is common in most languages. People can talk about peace treaties or times of peace; it means the absence of war. And in the Bible, the word peace can refer to the absence of conflict, but it also points to the presence of something better in its place.

-The Christian concept of peace involves the transformation of hearts through Christ.It's not the absence of conflict but the presence of Christ that leads to forgiveness, understanding, and reconciliation.

-Peace is something everyone wants, yet few seem to find. What is peace? It can be defined as “tranquility, harmony, or security.” Depending on the situation, it could mean “prosperity” or “well-being.” Various forms of the word peace are found 429 times in the King James Version of the Bible. There are different types of peace, including false peace, inner peace, peace with God, and peace with man.

-In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for peace is shalom, and in the New Testament, the Greek word is eirene (refers to The state of well-being and concord.) The most basic meaning of shalom is complete or whole.

-The word can refer to a stone that has a perfect whole shape with no cracks. It can also refer to a completed stone wall that has no gaps and no missing bricks. Shalom refers to something that’s complex with lots of pieces that’s in a state of completeness, wholeness.

-The core idea is that life is complex, full of moving parts and relationships and situations, and when any of these is out of alignment or missing, your shalom breaks down. Life is no longer whole. It needs to be restored.

-In fact, that’s the basic meaning of shalom when you use it as a verb. To bring shalom literally means to make complete or restore. So Solomon brings shalom to the unfinished temple when he completes it. Or if your animal accidentally damages your neighbor’s field, you shalom them by giving them a complete repayment for their loss. You take what’s missing, and you restore it to wholeness.

-The same goes for human relationships. In the book of Proverbs, to reconcile and heal a broken relationship is to bring shalom. And when rival kingdoms make shalom in the Bible, it doesn’t just mean they stop fighting. It also means they start working together for each other’s benefit.

-This state of shalom is what Israel’s kings were supposed to cultivate, and it rarely happened. So the prophet Isaiah, he looked forward to a future king, a prince of shalom. And his reign would bring shalom with no end—a time when God would make a covenant of shalom with his people and make right all wrongs and heal all that’s been broken.

-The worlds Superficial Calm: The world tends to define peace as a state of calm achieved when conflicts are suppressed or avoided.However, this view of peace is often superficial, merely covering up underlying issues and tensions.

-The Temporary Solutions: Merely avoiding conflict doesn't resolve the root causes but merely postpones confrontation.True peace, as understood in the Christian context, is not a temporary ceasefire but a lasting transformation.

-The Christian Perspective: Paul speaks of the peace of God that surpasses understanding.This peace is not contingent on external circumstances but is rooted in our relationship with Christ. (were gonna dive into this a little more shortly)

-Peace Amidst Storms: Christ, our ultimate example, faced conflicts during His earthly ministry, yet He radiated a peace that surpassed the storms around Him.As His followers, we are called to walk in this same peace, regardless of external conflicts.

-Transformation of Hearts: The Christian concept of peace involves the transformation of hearts through Christ.It's not the absence of conflict but the presence of Christ that leads to forgiveness, understanding, and reconciliation.

In a world that often confuses peace with the mere absence of conflict, let us stand firm in our Christian understanding.

-Lets also be clear here...Sin creates a chasm between humanity and God, disrupting the harmony intended in our relationship with Him.This separation leads to unrest, guilt, and a void that only the gift of peace with God can fill. There is no peace when living in sin…only chaos.

Our peace is not found in the suppression of tensions and ignoring our sinful ways but in the very presence of Christ within us.He has brought us this gift....

The Gift of Peace Section:

-This is why Jesus’s birth in the New Testament was announced as the arrival of eirene. Remember that’s the Greek word for peace. Jesus came to offer his peace to others like when he said to his followers, “my peace I give to you all.”

-The apostles claimed that Jesus made peace between messed up humans and God when he died and rose from the dead. The idea is that he restored to wholeness the broken relationship between humans and their Creator. This is why the apostle Paul can say Jesus himself is our eirene. He was the whole, complete human that I am made to be but have failed to be, and now he gives me his life as a gift. And this means that Jesus’ followers are now called to create peace.

-In the quiet town of Bethlehem, over two thousand years ago, a divine gift was unwrapped, a gift that transcends time and extends to all of humanity—the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. The title "Prince of Peace" isn't merely a poetic embellishment; it is a profound declaration of the nature and purpose of the Messiah.

As foretold by the prophet Isaiah, this gift Jesus, the Prince of Peace, came to bring Shalom—restoring our broken relationship with God and offering completeness in Him.The manger was not just a cradle; it was a symbol of God's plan to reconcile humanity to Himself through the birth of His Son.

-At the heart of Jesus' role as the Prince of Peace is the extraordinary gift of reconciliation with God. Humanity, burdened by the weight of sin and separated from its Creator, found in Jesus the bridge to restoration.

For many Christians, sin is something they think they can manage by behavior modification: “If I simply try harder, I can stop sinning.” This misunderstands the nature of sin—and human nature too.

-What is sin? it is a transgression of the law of God and rebellion against God himself. But the Pharisees were keen to never break any of God’s laws and yet Jesus continually called them sinful and told them they needed to repent. In other words, sin is placing your identity in anything other than God. So, for the Pharisees, their identity was found in their moral superiority. This is what sin is.If we don’t take sin seriously, then we will be fooled into thinking we can manage it.

-We can’t not act like sin is no big deal, or we just make mistakes… John 3:19 “This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.” we have to acknowledge that we are not just simply “victims" of sin or the flesh, rather we are lovers of it.

We cannot try to hold our sin in one hand and our savior in another it will not work, it will only cause more chaos and confusion in our lives....We must take it before the Prince of Peace and repent and allow Him to bring peace to our chaos and restore us to our heavenly father!

Through His sacrificial love on the cross, Jesus provided the means for forgiveness and redemption, ushering in a new era of Shalom—a state of harmonious connection between God and humanity.

Matthew 9:12–13 “Now when he heard this, he said, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.””

-This reconciliation, offered freely to all, is the ultimate gift, mending the broken relationship caused by sin and restoring the completeness intended from the beginning.

-In addition to reconciliation, Jesus bestows the gift of inner peace—a peace that surpasses understanding. In a world marked by sin, chaos, uncertainty, and fear, the Prince of Peace offers a tranquility that is not dependent on external circumstances. This inner peace becomes a guiding light, an anchor for our souls, as we navigate the storms of life with the assurance that Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is in control.

-this gift extends beyond the individual to the fabric of human relationships. As followers of the Prince of Peace, we are called to be peacemakers, agents of reconciliation and unity in a fractured world. Jesus' teachings on forgiveness, love, and compassion empower us to extend His peace to others, fostering harmony and understanding.

-The Prince of Peace has gifted humanity not only with personal reconciliation but also with the responsibility and privilege to contribute to the establishment of God's kingdom of Shalom—a kingdom characterized by justice, love, and enduring peace.

-In the gift of the Prince of Peace, we find a treasure that exceeds any material possession—a gift of eternal significance, offered to every soul. This Christmas, let us receive and embrace the profound gift of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, with open hearts, allowing His Shalom to permeate our lives and radiate to the ends of the earth.

Live With Peace Section:

- Philippians 4:6–7 have a wonderful promise:

It speaks of the inner peace that comes from fully trusting God to meet all our needs: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

-It is important to note the context of this promise, because that’s where we find the condition: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (verse 6). God’s peace is promised to guard those who pray—with thanksgiving—about everything. This peace will transcend our ability to understand it.

We see Jesus in action with the peace He brings

Read Mark 4:35-41

-On a day filled with teaching and ministering to the crowds, Jesus and His disciples decided to cross to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Little did they know that a fierce storm was about to test their faith. As they sailed, a great windstorm arose, and the waves violently beat against the boat. The disciples, fearing for their lives, woke Jesus, who was peacefully asleep in the stern of the boat.

-In their desperation, they cried out, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" In response, Jesus stood up, rebuked the wind, and spoke to the raging sea, saying, "Silence or in some translations Peace! Be still!" Instantly, the wind ceased, and a great calm fell upon the sea. The chaos was replaced by profound stillness.

-Addressing His disciples, Jesus questioned their fear and lack of faith. The disciples, now in awe of Jesus' authority over nature, asked one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

-This story beautifully portrays the power and authority of Jesus over the chaotic elements of nature. It shows how He can and will bring peace that surpasses all understanding!

- In the face of life's storms, Jesus brings peace and stillness. It also challenges us to trust in His sovereignty, even when we are confronted with tumultuous circumstances.

-The words "Peace! Be still!" not only calmed the physical storm but serve as a timeless reminder that Jesus has the power to bring peace to the storms of our lives, calming the chaos and instilling faith in our hearts.

-The believer who places his or her full confidence in a loving God and is thankful in every circumstance will possess a supernatural peace. An inner calm will dominate the heart. The faithful believer will know peace—his heart and mind are “guarded” by it—despite the tempest raging without. No one, especially those outside of Christ, will be able to fathom that peace. To most, it will remain a mystery how someone can be so serene in the midst of turmoil.

-The peace that comes from being in a right relationship with God is not the peace of this world. The world’s peace depends on having favorable circumstances: if things are going well, then we feel peaceful; when things go awry, the peace quickly dissipates. Jesus made the distinction between His peace and the world’s vacillating peace: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives” (John 14:27).

-God’s supernatural peace surpasses natural understanding. A cancer patient who experiences a remission of the disease may proclaim, “I am so thankful to God!” That is praise. A cancer patient who is dying and in pain may calmly say, “Everything is all right. I claim Romans 8:28, and I have peace in my heart.” That is “the peace that passes all understanding.”

- This Christmas, as we exchange earthly gifts, let us remember the greatest gift of all—the gift of peace with God through Jesus Christ. In embracing this gift, we find true joy, hope, and the assurance of eternal life. May the peace that surpasses all understanding fill your hearts and homes this Christmas season. Let us share the gifts of peace with others! May we allow the Lord to bring peace to our lives, our families, our communities, our world!

Week 3 Questions:

1.How do you find peace in your life? What brings you the most peace?

2.Is there an area in your life right now that feels chaotic and your need the Lord to give you peace that surpasses all understanding?

3.Jesus is the Prince Of Peace, how do your respond to this beautiful reality about our savior?

4.Have you seen Jesus bring peace or give you peace amidst a chaotic time in your life?

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