Christmas In The City

Sermon for 12/3/2006

John 14:27

Christ Came to Bring Peace Not Christmas Stress

Introduction:

From Children’s Christmas Program- It’s traffic, it’s people, it’s lights and noise. It’s busy moms and dads, it’s cranky girls and boys. It’s hustling and bustling, it’s high priced toys. It’s Christmas in the city. It’s pushin and shovin, it’s Christmas sales. It’s pullin and tuggin, fightin tooth and nail. It’s always fast and furious, it never fails. It’s Christmas in the city. It’s crowded we know, it’s noisy we know, but that’s how we celebrate. It’s frantic we know, it’s panic we know, but hey, we like it that way.

WBTU:

A. (Isa 9:6 NIV) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

B. (Luke 2:14 NIV) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

C. Around this time of the year we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, the one who came to bring peace. What peace? Doesn’t seem to be much peace in this world.

D. Main Scripture today is John 14:27.

F. We must remember the scene in John 14. Jesus is celebrating his last supper with his disciples, the 12. He has washed their feet. He has shared the Passover meal with them. He has told Judas Iscariot to do it quickly and Judas has left to betray his Master. He said in (John 13:33 NIV) “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

G. Jesus is telling them that he is going to die. His words are disturbing to them and so chapters 14 through 16 are words of encouragement, assurance, and promise to help calm their fears. They were troubled that night.

H. These words spoken here are on a personal level. First given to the disciples in that day and recorded for us in our day, these are not words to nations, governments, businesses or even to families (Matthew 10:34-37), these are words to individuals. Personal promises of Jesus to his disciples.

I. Chapter 14 Jesus mentions the Holy Spirit. (John 14:16 NIV) And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--(John 14:17 NIV) the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (John 14:18 NIV) I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

J. VS. 26 mention him again. Really Jesus is comforting them but saying that there is soon coming a day when He will be in them. They will not be orphans but Jesus Christ will in their hearts through the person of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ will live right here.

K. (Prov 18:24 NIV) A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

L. (Micah 5:2 NIV) "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."(Micah 5:4 NIV) He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. (Micah 5:5 NIV) And he will be their peace.

M. The peace that is talked about here is not the peace in the world but the personal peace that comes through Jesus Christ. Now this peace should help to bring about peace in the world.

O. But the emphasis here is not on the world but on the individual.

Thesis: Let’s continue to talk about this peace from the first three phrases in John 14:27.

For instances:

I. Not as the world gives do I give to you.

A. This world can give some personal peace. When we ate that Thanksgiving meal and then lay down on the couch to watch football and fell asleep, there was some personal peace from this. The comforts of life give a small sense of peace. Those living the high life in all the comforts money can afford do have some peace.

B. When we have worked hard all week and then we have the opportunity to get out of town and go to an amusement park, there is some enjoyment and excitement from this.