DATE: 25th December, 2020
THEME: PEACE
SCRIPTURE READING
Isaiah 9:2-7
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-20
Psalter : Psalm 96:1-13
PREPARED BY: OSOFO YAW DODD
INTRODUCTION
In our world today, people seek to establish peace, yet whatever successes they might seem to achieve are never permanent. Instead of achieving peace, man continually lives with chaos, confusion, and conflict. Can you imagine what it would be like to live in a world where there is NO WAR, NO FIGHTING, NO ARGUMENTS, and NO DISPUTES of any kind? None of us can really fathom what a world like that would be – why? Because we have never experienced it or even anything close to it!
People throughout the centuries have talked about peace; but, few, if any, have ever had an actual plan to bring peace to the world! BUT GOD HAS A PLAN. God has sent us a Prince of Peace.
The term “PEACE ” has been clearly connected with the absence of war. If there is no war – there is peace. However, the word that is used in the Old Testament for peace is “SHALOM ” and it means so much more than the absence of conflict. SHALOM is indeed used to describe THE END OF HOSTILITIES, but the word itself also pictures HEALTH and WHOLENESS. It denotes harmony and completeness. To have shalom is to have not only a quiet life but also to have a fulfilled life in every way.
When you have shalom there is no feeling of harm or hurt. When you have shalom you are in a state of ease and safety. There is no fearing whatsoever. There is no worry. There is a sense of harmony and oneness. You know your purpose and you have a sense of wholeness and completeness.
Everything is exactly the way it should be. Nothing is out of order. Your inner world as well as the outer world is in harmony. This is shalom – this is the peace that Jesus brings for He is – Our Prince of Peace.
I like how Paul Tripp says it: “Peace does not come from your distance from trouble, but rather from the nearness of your Savior!”
CONTEXT
One of the most heartwarming aspects of this Christmas season is its encouraging promise of PEACE. Peace is a recurring theme in the nativity story. The prophet Isaiah speaks in the passage read today of a resounding peace that comes amid the vivid imagery of the boots of tramping warriors and battle garments rolled in blood all of which will be burned as fuel for the fire to usher in the One who will be known as the Prince of Peace.
According to Luke, a multitude of the heavenly hosts, the ones who appeared to the shepherds that night of Jesus’ birth, sang of “PEACE ON EARTH GOOD WILL TO ALL.”
Our text tells us about the night that the father’s promise was fulfilled. As we look in on the events of that special night, we can learn something about how God provided His Lamb. IT WAS A NIGHT OF TREMENDOUS MIRACLES AND GREAT BLESSINGS. It was the night when God moved into the world to live and eventually to die. This account of God’s announcement of the birth of Jesus Christ to the shepherds contains some very important truths. These truths are still vitally important to you and i today.
BODY
- JESUS: THE PRINCE OF PEACE
As the angels announced the coming of Christ, their message was “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace among men with whom He is pleased.” In other words, God is being greatly glorified and peace is being made available to people through Jesus Christ.
According to the Bible, true peace is only available through Jesus. (Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 53) Peace without Jesus is only available through DECEPTION, DRUGS or DISTRACTION. However, all three are very temporary and lead to eternal regret and anguish of soul.
II. IN CHRIST WE DISCOVER UPWARD PEACE
Upward Peace is the basis of all true peace. Upward peace is the peace one needs and receives when Jesus Christ is accepted as Lord and Savior. Look at Romans 5:1 and note the text that reads, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Clearly, the peace we need most comes through a relationship with God brought to us only through His Son, Jesus Christ.
When we become Christians, we are granted peace with God. That is what we can call “SAVING PEACE“. It means that the wall of partition is broken down which stood between our soul and God. Christmas reminds us that God sent His Son into this world to open the door of peace to our HEARTS, MINDS and SOULS. When a person accepts Christ, the conflict with God is over.
III. IN CHRIST WE DISCOVER INWARD PEACE
Once we have peace with God, we are ready for real peace within. Unfortunately, many Christians do not experience inner peace because they do not understand how to activate it. In John 14:1 we read where Jesus said, “Do not let your heart be troubled.” There is an important element in this sentence which can be overlooked. Jesus used the word “LET” when referring to the troubled heart. The problem for the believer is that he “lets” his heart be troubled. There must be something we do in ourselves, something totally unnecessary, which causes us to lose our peace.
Remember that Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Jesus repeats His peace. He says it twice in the same sentence – He says, “PEACE I LEAVE, MY PEACE I GIVE YOU.” This is not just peace, this is bon-bon peace! It is good peace. It is perfect peace. This is peace-peace!
There is, however, a condition to obtaining this peace. Let me share with you that there is saving peace and there is LIVING PEACE, and living peace is somewhat different. Living peace is the tranquility of the heart and soul in the midst of life’s adverse winds. Living peace is the serenity of the mind despite the stabbing pangs of fear, doubt, depression, temptation, and all other attacks to our emotional well being.
VI. IN CHRIST WE DISCOVER OUTWARD PEACE
What we need to be aware of, is peace with people around us. WE ARE CALLED UPON AS CHRISTIANS TO BE PACEMAKERS. God is not asking us to do the impossible. There are some people who will not let you live at peace with them. And, WE MUST NOT SACRIFICE TRUTH FOR PEACE. We cannot submit to falsehood and injustice in the name of peace.
In Hebrews 12:14-15 we read, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy;…” We should make every effort to live in peace and to avoid allowing roots of bitterness to grow up between us and others. When you are not right with someone with whom you should have a right spirit and relationship, you will not enjoy the full peace with God or yourself.
V. IN CHRIST WE DISCOVER ONWARD PEACE
Yes, there is an onward, everlasting peace. One day the Prince of Peace is coming back. One day the Lord of Glory who came as a little baby, was placed in a manager, held in Mary’s arms, will return as a reigning Lord on a white stallion. For all who know Christ, we can live now in the promise of an Onward Peace – a peace which will be eternal in the presence of our Lord.
APPLICATION
PEACE. Just five little letters, yet so powerful it can change the world. Isaiah prophesied that the coming Messiah would be the Prince of Peace. Why PRINCE? Why not KING of Peace?
A prince acts under the authority of his father, the king. While Jesus is fully God, equal with His Father (John 1:1), He brings peace as the emissary, or messenger from His Father. Jesus was “SENT BY GOD ” (1 John 4:9) and “BECAME OBEDIENT ” by His death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). Thus, His role as Prince of Peace is directly tied to His role as Savior, accomplishing the task for which His Father sent Him into our world. REAL PEACE CAN ONLY BE FOUND IN JESUS.
▪Jesus Provides Peace with God
▪Jesus Provides Peace in our Circumstances
▪Jesus Provides Peace in the Family
▪Jesus Provides Peace that Rules Our Hearts
▪Jesus Provides Eternal Peace
CONCLUSION
Precious One! Have you made peace with God? Have you received His Son Jesus into your life? If not, this is the right day to do so! For many of us who have received Him, we still do not live in the full peace He offers. We have not formed our thinking by His Word or fixed our trust in Him. We are still trusting in SELF, JOB, HEALTH, MONEY or something other than our Lord. We cannot have peace like that. Still others lack peace with one another. Some have not done all they can to live in peace with those around you and that is what the Bible says we must do.
Come to the Prince of Peace today and find new and full peace for your heart and soul! Enjoy the service. Stay BLESSED.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
PREPARED BY
VERY REV DR. SAMUEL DUA DODD
CALVARY METHODIST SOCIETY
ADABRAKA, ACCRA
