With Us - Peace Series

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“With Us” - Part 2 - Peace

Steele Creek Church

December 13, 2020

A worldly approach to personal peace

• Look within for it

“If there’s no inner peace, people can’t give it to you. . . You have to give it to you.” —Linda Evans

• Think really hard

“Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you think it should be.” —Wayne W. Dyer

• It can’t be found

“We will forever be at war with ourselves.” ? Anthony T. Hincks

Four Peace Thieves That Live Rent Free in Your Mind

• Your past ungodly actions (guilt)

• Your broken relationships (grudges)

• Your moments of heartache (grief)

• Your unsettled life direction (guidance needed)

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!” Luke 2:8-13 (NKJV)

A message from God: “I bring you. . . peace. . .”

GOD’S PRESCRIPTION FOR YOUR PERSONAL PEACE

IS A PERSON!

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. Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

• Guilty and confused? Jesus is your Wonderful Counselor

o Prescription: Psalm 32:4-5 (ESV)

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Psalm 32:4-5 (ESV)

Key: Confess what you did to Jesus the Wonderful Counselor

• Broken relationships? Jesus is your Mighty God

o Prescription: Psalm 147:3-5 (ESV)

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. Psalm 147:3–5 (ESV)

Key: Allow your Mighty God to heal your broken-heart

• Regrets and sorrows? He is your Everlasting Father

o Prescription: Genesis 50:20 + Romans 8:28

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. . . And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Genesis 50:20 + Romans 8:28 (ESV)

Key: See your Everlasting Father at work even in the hard things

• Lacking direction? Jesus is your Prince of Peace

o Prescription: Psalm 37:37 (NIV)

Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace. Psalm 37:37 (NIV)

Key: Surrender your future to the direction of the Prince of Peace

MANUSCRIPT

“With Us” - Part 2 - Peace

Steele Creek Church

December 13, 2020

ME

Good morning.

Well, here we are just 12 days from Christmas. Now the song and the tradition called “The 12 days of Christmas” is based on a supposed timeline between Jesus birth and the arrival of the Magi, wise men who sought the birth of the Messiah. Now, some have said that being men, these guys showed up late to the big event because as is the fashion of “men”, they didn’t stop and ask for directions.

Someone has said that if the 3 wise-men were woman, they would have stopped and asked for directions, arrived in time to help with the delivery, tidied up the place, made breakfast and relieved the young mother! (LOL)

Anyhow, these wise men were seekers of truth and they had discovered messages in the Old Testament that led them to the place where One who would be called the Prince of Peace, the Promised One of God would be born.

If we’re honest, we’re all looking for something. It seems to me that most people today, now more than ever simply want inner peace. Less stress, a sense of wellbeing and moments of time where their mind is not occupied with thoughts of, “I must”, “what if” or “I wonder why”?

Some may actually wonder if personal peace is achievable. If you look to the natural, a worldly approach to peace you’ll find lots of advice.