Meeting The Prince Of Peace Series

Meeting the Prince of peace

Selective verses

Good Morning Everyone,

Illustration-

I am about to give away my age-

In a Peanuts cartoon Lucy demanded that Linus change TV channels, (that gives my age away) threatening him with her fist if he didn't. "What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asks Linus.

"These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they're nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold."

"Which channel do you want?" asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, "Why can't you guys get organized like that?

Now this morning, I am not advocating violence, but how much better would we get along if we had unity and peace?

In over 3500 years of recorded history, we have only been at peace with each other 286 years. There’s been over 8000 peace treaties made- and 8000 broken.

We quickly see and know that the world does not do a very good job at keeping peace and being friendly to each other.

As we enter the second week of Advent, let me draw your heart to some scripture that ought to bring you peace- Biblical peace

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call him Immanuel.(God with us)”

“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.”

“Today in the town of David a savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah the Lord.”

“Suddenly an angel appeared among them, and the landscape shone bright with the glory of the Lord. They were badly frightened, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” “I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone!””

God with us

God for us

That will preach this morning!

Jesus…Our peace and our Joy even when we are in troubled times!

Jesus…Our Peace even when we are in circumstances beyond our control.

We live in a world that knows no peace- Yet we can have peace

Let’s pray-

Father, today I ask you to speak to each one of us who desires to know your peace. The ones who desire to live in harmony with you even amongst a world that does not know or want peace. May you open our eyes to you in a fresh and new way and we will give you honor and glory. In Jesus Name! Amen.

If I was to ask each of you to give me your idea of peace, I am sure that it would be a little different for each of us.

Finding true peace can be a challenge. Peace is not the absence of problems. (Repeat)

We think if all of our problems go away, we would have this magical peace we have been looking for – just not true. Inner and outer factors in our lives would cause us to stumble with peace.

God’s Holy Spirit dwelling in us is our power and strength with God’s presence to live above the problems in our lives.

God is the only one who gives us wholeness and completeness.

Hebrew Word Shalom means peace with wholeness.

We are desiring the world to have peace and many Christians do not know God’s peace.

You cannot give what you yourself do not possess.

There are many bible believing Christians who struggle with peace-

Have tough nights staying up worrying,

Hard time getting a grip on their fears

Take anxiety medicines to help them cope with life.

Now if you need these things, please continue but somewhere the peace of God ought to bring us peace in a way that we can live our lives the way God intended.

Jesus desires that we have peace in our lives- do you believe that this morning?

On this side of heaven it won’t come without problems, but we can still have the peace of God like He has promised.

That is the comfort and peace Jesus brings and desires for each of us-

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace in this world. You will have trouble, but take heart! I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.”

What I want you to see this morning is that there is a big difference between the world’s idea of peace and God’s peace intended for the believer.

The peace offered by the world is empty and at best brings temporary peace and comfort.

God’s peace is offered by God to God’s children and is permanent because God’s peace is based upon the fact that God can be trusted and His Word is truth.