2nd Advent - Peace

2023.12.10. Sermon Notes. 2nd Advent – PEACE

KnoW JESUS KnoW PEACE

William Akehurst, HSWC

Big Idea. Advent 2nd week – Peace. The Advent of CHRIST was to bring us peace. Not the kind of peace we relate to, rather, Peace with GOD. Know JESUS Know Peace – NO JESUS NO PEACE

Scriptures: John 14:27, Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:8-14, Colossians 1:19-22, John 14:27,

Romans 5:1-2, Romans 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:11, Philippians 4:4-7, Colossians 3:15,

John 16:33, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, 2 Thessalonians 3:16

THERE ARE SIGNS ALONG THE ROAD THAT GIVES A TWO-FOLD MESSAGE:

IT READS “KNOW JESUS – KNOW PEACE”. (“KNOW” AS IN RELATIONSHIP or “UNDERSTANDING”)

WITHIN THOSE WORDS LIES A SECOND MESSAGE.

IN THE COLOR RED, IT READS “NO JESUS – NO PEACE” (“NO” AS IN “WITHOUT”)

KEY VERSE: John 14:27 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.

WHAT PEACE IS JESUS REFERRING TO?

WHAT DEFINES PEACE?

WE KNOW WAR AND PEACE, CONFLICT AND CALM.

THE WORDS in John 14:27b “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” ARE A REMINDER TO HOLD ONTO THIS PEACE IN TIMES OF TURMOIL OR WORLD CRISIS.

REFLECTING THAT THIS PEACE THAT JESUS GIVES IS INNER PEACE.

INNER PEACE THAT TRANSCENDS OUTER TURMOIL.

WHILE SCRIPTURE SPEAKS OF THIS TYPE OF PEACE, IT ALSO SPEAKS OF PEACE THAT IS “OUT OF THIS WORLD”.

PEACE OF RECONCILIATION. PEACE WITH GOD, RECONCILIATION WITH GOD.

GODLY PEACE – NOT WORLD PEACE

THE MESSIAH WAS PROPHESIED TO BRING PEACE.

MESSIAH IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

AS A BELIEVER IN CHRIST JESUS, WITH HIS SPIRIT, THE SPIRIT OF THE MESSIAH OF LIGHT TO THE WORLD “IN” YOU,

YOU HAVE SOMETHING “INSIDE” THAT THE WORLD NEEDS.

TO KNOW JESUS IS TO KNOW PEACE. INNER PEACE

AND IN CONTRAST, TO BE WITHOUT JESUS IS TO BE WITHOUT PEACE.

Isaiah 9:2-7

2 The people who walked in darkness

Have seen a great light;

Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,

Upon them a light has shined.

3 You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy; They rejoice before You according to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, As in the day of Midian.

5 For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle, and garments rolled in blood, will be used for burning and fuel of fire.

THE PROMISED CHILD, THE PROMISED SON, THE PROMISED KINGDOM,

THE PRINCE OF PEACE

6 For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

INCREASE OF HIS GOVERNMENT (KINGDOM) AND HIS NEVER-ENDING PEACE

7 Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end,

Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

To order it and establish it with judgment and justice

From that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

FULFILLMENT - THE CHILD IS BORN

HEAVEN’S ANNOUNCEMENT

HERALDED BLESSINGS OF 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!”

PEACE “WITH” GOD – “WITH”

Colossians 1:19-22

19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—

PEACE “WITH” GOD “THROUGH” JESUS. THE ONLY WAY TO SALVATION (PEACE)