ADVENT - PEACE
Advent • Sermon • Submitted
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· 1,010 viewsIn the First Advent Jesus gave His own Peace with God, Peace of Conscience, and the ability to live in Peace with others. In the Second Advent Jesus will give all creation Peace, as He sets the world to right. We can live out of that future Peace, when we place our Hope - Joyful expectation in the Second Advent.
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In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
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.” 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!”
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.
The people who walk in darkness
will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
a light will shine.
You will enlarge the nation of Israel,
and its people will rejoice.
They will rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest
and like warriors dividing the plunder.
For you will break the yoke of their slavery
and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.
You will break the oppressor’s rod,
just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.
The boots of the warrior
and the uniforms bloodstained by war
will all be burned.
They will be fuel for the fire.
For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Today is the second week of Advent.
Today is the second week of Advent.
Now remember Advent is not just about remembering but it is also about anticipating.
Advent is a time to look back at the first coming of Jesus and then in anticipation looking forward to the Second, coming of Jesus.
Last week, we spoke on Hope. The Hope we have in the first Advent and our Hope in the Second Advent.
We have Hope because we can see what Jesus has done.
And therefore, we have a secure Hope (Joyful Expectation) that Jesus will return and set the world to right.
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Hope leads us to the next Advent Candle.
Hope leads us to the next Advent Candle.
When we have Hope, hope will lead us to Peace.
It is when we focus on our Hope that, Jesus will return and set all things to right; we can live in Peace amid troubles and suffering.
Amid war, the hope of Jesus gives peace.
Amid sickness, the hope of the second coming gives us peace.
Amid death, the hope of resurrection gives us peace.
Amid suffering and trials, the Hope of Jesus’ return to set the world right gives us peace.
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So, what is Peace?
So, what is Peace?
From the Lexham Theological Workbook - Peace denotes the wholeness, soundness, and well-being that characterizes God and that God created in the world. As peace was broken due to human sin, such well-being constitutes the hope for ultimate restoration by God.[1]
In the O.T. the Word for peace was Shalom – The state of being whole, no division, unity, harmony.
In the N.T. the word for peace is Eirene – Well being to live in Harmony.
Peace is the well-being experienced when we are in harmony with God, others, our-selves.
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As we look back at the first Advent, we are reminded of how He brought Peace to His own.
As we look back at the first Advent, we are reminded of how He brought Peace to His own.
First Advent –
First Advent –
Jesus gave us Peace with God
Jesus gave us Peace with God
Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body.
He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.
So he is first in everything.
For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.
Romans 5:11
So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
Jesus gave us Peace within our own conscience
Jesus gave us Peace within our own conscience
Jesus gave us Peace within our own conscience
Jesus gave us Peace within our own conscience
Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.
Jesus gave us Peace with one another.
Jesus gave us Peace with one another.
For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
Jesus gave us Peace in ourselves.
Jesus gave us Peace in ourselves.
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
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And yet, as we look around the world
And yet, as we look around the world
Our cities
Our families
Our own homes
We still see turmoil, war, divisions, and even chaos.
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And even our own peace seems to fade with such troubles all around us.
And even our own peace seems to fade with such troubles all around us.
Peace, can seem like a vivid dream. It is there and yet, it is not.
It is experienced and then forgotten.
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This is why Advent is so, beautiful.
This is why Advent is so, beautiful.
Advent calls us and reminds us that our great day of salvation is coming.
Jesus is coming back to set the world to right.
Advent calls us to look with Joyful expectation towards the Second, Advent.
And to live in the Peace of His return today!
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Let us take our gaze from the babe and look in Hope to our Future of Peace.
Let us take our gaze from the babe and look in Hope to our Future of Peace.
Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.
No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.
This is the Second Advent - This is our source of never ending Peace.
This is the Second Advent - This is our source of never ending Peace.
Jesus will bring Peace to all creation.
In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together;
the leopard will lie down with the baby goat.
The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion,
and a little child will lead them all.
The cow will graze near the bear.
The cub and the calf will lie down together.
The lion will eat hay like a cow.
The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra.
Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.
Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,
for as the waters fill the sea,
so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.
Humanity will be at Peace with God
I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
The Humanity will be at Peace with one another
This is a vision that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house
will be the highest of all—
the most important place on earth.
It will be raised above the other hills,
and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.
People from many nations will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of Jacob’s God.
There he will teach us his ways,
and we will walk in his paths.”
For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion;
his word will go out from Jerusalem.
The Lord will mediate between nations
and will settle international disputes.
They will hammer their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will no longer fight against nation,
nor train for war anymore.
Justice will rule in the wilderness
and righteousness in the fertile field.
And this righteousness will bring peace.
Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever.
My people will live in safety, quietly at home.
They will be at rest.
When Jesus returns He will set the World to Peace.
He will set the World to Shalom – In Harmony with God’s desires and intent.
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As we live in the Hope of the Second Advent, we can experience that future peace, right now amid the chaos.
As we hear of wars and conflicts around the world – we can live in peace today knowing that all wars will end when He returns.
As we, struggle through the chaos of our family lives – we can live in peace today knowing that all brokenness will be set right.
As we live in a world full of sickness, mental disease, addictions, and death – We can live in the Peace of the New Heaven and Earth today.
As we live through the death of a loved one,
As we live through divorce,
As we live through estranged relationships,
We can experience the Peace of God wiping away our tears and making all things new today!
Advent reminds us, that if we will place our Hope (Joyful expectation) in the Second Advent, we can live in the Peace of tomorrow today!
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Let me finish today by giving you 6 ways you can live in the Peace of the future today!
P – Patiently wait with joyful anticipation
E – Engage the world as a Peacemaker.
A – Accept today but emotionally live in the Peace of the Second Advent.
C – Choose to speak from a place of Hope and not of suffering.
E- Elevate your thoughts from this world, to the world that will be.
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Let me end with this Quote.
The Good News of Advent is not that we are faithful in our waiting (we often aren’t)
But that God is faithful in His coming.
Rich Villodas