Sermon Series: God’s Promises for YOU at Christmas
Today’s Message: How To Find Peace In A Stressed Out World
Text: Isaiah 9:6; John 14:25-27; Colossians 3:15
Dr. Ken Squires, Jr. December 31, 2006
Edited by Dale Weaver
(6) 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 (Isaiah 9 - NIV)
(25) All this I have spoken while still with you. (26) But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (27) 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. (John 14 – NIV)
(15a) Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. (Colossians 3 – NIV)
At the time of this writing, the story dominating the national news involves the execution of former Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein. On December 30, 2006 the gun-toting dictator, who ruled Iraq with an iron fist for 24 years, was taken to the gallows. This 69-year-old despot, who ruled in modernity one of the most noted geographies of the Bible, was hanged in Baghdad.
President Bush called Hussein’s execution “the kind of justice he denied the victims of his brutal regime.” While the number of Hussein’s victims may never be known, he was certainly responsible for the horrific deaths of many thousands of people.
On the day he was convicted and sentenced to death, Hussein wrote a letter to the Iraqi people, according to his lawyers. In the document, he asked Iraqis not to hate the foreign people who invaded their country, just their leaders, because hatred “will blind your vision and close all doors of thinking.” “I say goodbye to you, but will be with the merciful God who helps those who take refuge in Him, and God won’t disappoint any honest believer,” the letter said. (1)
Take notice of Hussein’s statement and how he was seemingly, even at this late date, trying to find Peace with his God. Concerning the same event, some of his former countrymen were trying to find peace within. 26-year-old Jassim Al Buhaleg, an Iraqi now living in Everett, Washington clapped his hands and said, “I want to go through the ceiling,” when television reported Hussein had been hanged. Minutes later, though, his hands moved to cover his face as he wept. Al Buhaleg said he was thinking about his father, who 20 years ago was dragged from their home in Iraq by Hussein’s soldiers, never to be seen again. (2)
These episodes play out against a backdrop of a nation that is starting to tire of the costs – human and otherwise – of waging war and is seeking answers that can lead to peace on the battlefield. Hussein’s seeming search for peace with his God, Al Buhaleg’s desire for inner peace, and a people longing for peace with others – it seems like all of mankind is searching for one of these three varieties of peace: Peace with God; Peace with Self; Peace with Others.
As we conclude this series entitled “God’s Promises for YOU at Christmas,” how timely is it that we conclude with the promise of the Bethlehem child who offers all who seek “supernatural peace?”
(6) 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 (Isaiah 9 - NIV)
The fields of Flanders were no place to be on Christmas Eve, 1914. Thousands of British, French, Belgian and German troops were dug-in and planning yet another day’s carnage. None of them would have guessed that the “War to End All Wars” would continue nearly four more years and ultimately cost more than eight million soldiers’ lives. So, when the entrenched British soldiers saw candle-lit decorations emerging from the enemy’s foxholes and heard the strains of faint melodies being sung in German they thought their enemies were taunting them and prepared to open fire. Suddenly, one of the British soldiers recognized the melody and started singing too -- the same song that the Germans were singing -- only in English. Soon other British soldiers began singing as well and suddenly the whole battlefield, in that little parched land of war-torn France on the Christmas Eve, 1917, was singing “Silent Night.”
For the remainder of that night and much of the next week the war stopped, as the both sides lay down their weapons and lifted their 18-20 year old voices to sing familiar Christmas carols in their own languages. An amazing spirit of peace fell over the battlefield that night as war gave way to peace in the Spirit of the Christmas child whose coming had been foretold by Isaiah. By New Years all sides would be back to killing as usual but, for a brief moment, peace came to one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history. That same Christ still offers peace to the bloodiest of conflicts in our lives. (3)
Usually the cease-fire God brings to the battles in our lives is short-lived because we then tend to set him aside until the next round of conflict. But, today Jesus wants to bring lasting peace -- a peace that will be cultivated daily and leave lasting fruit in our war-torn lives.
Looking for Peace
We live in a world that is looking for peace. Most of us are more familiar with tension, stress and anxiety than peace. Lack of peace is the result of our complex, accelerated and stressed-out world. If you can complete these sentences with the appropriate word, you need to learn what resources are offered you by the “God of Peace.”
…I am ready to throw in the… (towel).
…I am at the end of my…(rope).
…I am just a bundle of…(nerves).
…I am at my wits…(end).
…I feel like resigning from the human…(race).
…I am in over my…(head).
How did you do? If you answered “towel,” “rope,” “nerves,” “end,” “race” and “head,” give yourself an “A.” And take a vacation. Most of us have used these phrases at one time or another in our hurried lives (4). Never forget that peace is an “inside job.”
Most people are disconnected from peace on a daily basis due to one of three reasons: (1) sin – loss of peace with God; stress – loss of peace with self; conflict – loss of peace with others. That’s the bad news. The good news is that God has an answer in the form of one of the names of God. Jehovah-Shalom. The God of peace desires to come into the broken lives of humanity.
A model for this can be found in the book of Philemon. Now, not many Bible studies are done from this equivalent of a New Testament Post-card. If the old adage is true that great things come in small packages, then this personal letter from Paul is a prime example. This is one of Paul’s four personal letters; the others are 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. Located just before Hebrews in our English Bible, this single-chapter epistle offers a model for how to find Peace with God; Peace with Self; and Peace with Others.
In New Testament times one of the chief features of life in the Roman Empire was slavery. It was pervasive and no family was unaffected. It is in Philemon where we meet a fugitive slave who had stolen from his employer (master). Onesimus fled to Rome or Ephesus and “providentially” he met the Apostle Paul. Dear one, nothing happens by daily accident -- only by divine incident. It is here he became a Christ-follower and servant to the Apostle (verse 10). Onesimus went from being a slave to being a son. Onesimus is described as being separated from his master, once having been “useless” to him (a pun on Onesimus’ name, which means “useful”), and having done Philemon wrong. Paul sent the slave back to face his aggrieved master, and in his letter encourages reconciliation between these two Christians.
Is Onesismus now Philemon’s “brother” as well as “slave,” or does his new stature in faith supersede and supplant that of a slave? Paul was hoping that Philemon would allow the young servant of Christ to eventually return and render ministry service to the aging apostle who was imprisoned at the time. How shocked Philemon must have been when Onesimus walked through the door and even more surprised when he handed his master the letter we call “Philemon.” The punishment within the Roman Empire for runaway slaves was certain death. This one chapter missive on Peace-Making models again the three types of peace all of us are looking for.
Peace with God- (10) I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. (18) If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to my account. (Philemon)
Peace with Self-(14) But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor that you do will be spontaneous and not forced. (Philemon)
Peace with Others-(16) no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. (Philemon)
Keep in mind that the Roman Empire was supported by remorseless brutality. What does it say of Onesimus’ commitment -- to restoration; to making peace with Philemon; or to trusting God for the outcome – that he would risk it all to make peace with his master.
Let’s look at another biblical example of people searching for peace. The world of the disciples was about to cave in; it was about to be reduced to rubble and chaos. In John Chapter 14 we see the contrasts between:
…peace and fear
…comfort and anxiety
…a stormy description of the future and present encouragement of where to find God’s help
Using a selective snapshot of the chapter, let’s fast forward to the words that Jesus offers for these troubled hearts. Jesus can tell that the hearts of his followers are troubled at the announcement of his impending departure.
(1) “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. (2) In my father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (4) You know the way to the place where I am going.” (John 14 – NIV)
As soon as those words were spoken, the disciples’ hearts became increasingly troubled. A closer look at the preceding verses will give us an indication as to why they were so bothered:
First, Jesus had just told the disciples He would soon die (John 13:33). The immediate result was fear. Whenever the topic of death is raised, there is an elephant in the corner and that elephant is the king of fears: fear of death!
…”My children, I will be with you only a little longer.”
Second, Jesus told the disciples that He would only be around for a little longer and they couldn’t come with Him (John 14:36). This understandably made the disciples anxious and frustrated.
…”Where I am going you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
Finally, Jesus informs them that disloyalty is just around the corner (John13: 38).
…”I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
For three days the disciples will wander through the street of Jerusalem. The sorrow of their disloyalty will cause some to think about throwing in the towel. But, one by one they will make their way back to the same upper room -- familiar, safe and filled with memories. These announcements were enough to rob anybody of their peace. It most certainly did to the disciples.
(27) “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
We know what robbed the disciples of their peace. What is robbing you of yours?
…Is it an auto accident that has shaken you up to the point where you’re afraid of the road?
…Maybe your peace has been destroyed because a violent crime has taken place in your life? One of our Assemblies of God missionaries is coming home from the field because he was held hostage at gunpoint. The trauma has so robbed him of his peace that his life is now filled with panic attacks.
…Has someone embarrassed you, revealing in public what should have remained private?
…Perhaps you recently learned from your doctor that you are much worse than first diagnosed and are not sure that you will ever be able to work again. How will you make the mortgage?
Let me suggest 5 biblical strategies for securing peace in an uptight world.
Your Solution for PaxJehovah
(1) Receive God’s pardon.
…”Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)
Have you seen the bumper sticker, “No Peace, No God…Know Peace, Know God.” Quite simply, that’s what this peace is all about. If we don’t have peace with God, we will certainly never enjoy any other sort of peace. This peace comes to a man or women when they invite Christ to come into their lives.
When you read God’s word, have you ever noticed that Paul always started his letters with…”Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 1:3)? Paul always ordered them as “grace” first and then “peace.” Never peace before grace. This is not accidental -- The only way you’ll ever have God’s peace is to first receive God’s grace. We are not only saved by grace, but we serve in grace.
Did you know that Jesus Christ is the “Prince of Peace” according to Isaiah 9:6? The saddest news is that those who do not know Christ live a life devoid of peace.
…”There is no peace, God says, to the wicked. (Is. 57:21)
So it is true: No God, No Peace…Know God, Know Peace!
God’s peace comes when we have a clear conscience. A clear conscience is secured by, “Confessing our sins, one to another, and he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins” (1 John 1:9).
(2) Trust God’s purposes.
…”Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.” (Colossians 3:15)
The verse begins by saying, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” Peace is a choice. Yes -- Peace is an inside job. You have to let God work in that part of your life. You will not have peace if you don’t let Him operate the way He wants.
So often we feel, “If I only understood what is going on….” Let me tell you three reasons why this sort of thinking is fallacious and does not provide any real or lasting peace. First, God is not required to explain anything He does. If He did, there wouldn’t be any “faith” involved. Faith is trusting God for those things which only He can bring about. God is just and fair. God is loving. Accept His ways and plans for your life, without any prerequisite explanation.
Second, let’s say that God did explain it…you couldn’t understand it anyway. The Bible says, “His ways are higher than man’s ways.” For God to bring us up to speed on all He is doing, He would have to trace backwards all the events of human history so we could see how it all fits together -- much like a billion piece jigsaw puzzle – which we still would not be able to comprehend!
Finally, when was the last time any explanation was fully satisfactory? Think about your children. “Why, Dad?” “How come, Mom?” Where you ever able to satisfy the curiosity of your child? No. Explanations don’t bring peace. What provides peace is His name. His character. His attributes. His care, comfort and concern.
(3) Understand God’s perspective.
…”And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7)
To appreciate this verse you must interpret it with a military hermeneutic. The word for “guard,” is a military term. The word means, “to guard with a garrison of soldiers to protect your heart and mind against the enemy.” When we let our guard down through giving in to temptation or not following God’s Word, then our peace leaves.
(4) Focus on God’s presence.
…”You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)
The choice is simple – will we focus on God or on our own problems? What we focus on determines our level of personal peace. Someone has said, “If you look at the world you will be impressed. If you look at yourself you will be depressed. If you look at God, you will be at rest.” (5)
Keeping our mind focused on Christ is the key to peace. God’s Word says, “As a man thinks, so he is.” You are not what you think you are, but rather: what you think -- you are. Let me let you in on a few facts about how uptight we really are:
· 75% of the general population experiences some type of stress every two weeks.
· 75%-90% of all visits to the primary care physicians are stress-related complaints or disorders.
· Nearly half of all worker-related turnover in the market place is stress related.
The solution to anxiety and stress is to get your focus back on God…
…Be still and know that I am God (Psalms 46:10).
The word for “be still” in the Hebrew means, “to ease up” or “let go!” We all know that when you go into a corner driving at 55 miles per hour, you should ease up on the gas pedal. As we approach a problem, God is saying, “Ease up.” So many of our problems come from our inability to relax or sit still – our inability to “Ease up!”
Tips for Being Still With God
1. Let God (and not your imagination) define your problem.
2. Listen to praise and worship music! Music does soothe the savage beast. Ask David.
3. Clear your mind. Read about your identity in Christ.
4. Laugh out loud until your attitude changes the situation.
5. Pray.
(5) Ask for God’s peace.
…Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7)
Anxiety often steals our peace. The word, “anxious” means, “to choke,” or “distract.” Anxiety is the opposite of peace. Some of us start worrying the minute we wake up.
The solution to worry and anxiety is, quite simply, prayer.
..Be anxious about nothing, pray about everything.
These seven peace-producing words seem so simple and yet are so difficult to wrap our arms around. And it is during our time of prayer when God will deposit that peace into our troubled hearts. As we are praying, the burden will be lifted. The fear and stress will be released. The Bible says, “we have not because we ask not.” My friend, don’t be guilty of prayerlessness. Peace is yours if you ask.
Let’s not forget that mankind’s problem of not getting a handle on peace has been around for over 3000 years. It was Solomon who first spoke of this illusive experience:
“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” (Prov. 14:30)
Summary Comments
1. Most people are disconnected from peace on a daily basis due to one of three reasons: (1) sin – loss of peace with God; stress – loss of peace with self; conflict – loss of peace with others. That’s the bad news. The good news is that God has an answer in the form of one of the names of God. Jehovah-Shalom. The God of peace desires to come into the broken lives of humanity.
2. Keeping our mind focused on Christ is the key to peace. God’s Word says, “As a man thinks, so he is.” You are not what you think you are, but rather: what you think -- you are. Let me let you in on a few facts about how uptight we really are:
· 75% of the general population experiences some type of stress every two weeks.
· 75%-90% of all visits to the primary care physicians are stress-related complaints or disorders.
· Nearly half of all worker-related turnover in the market place is stress related.
Surprising Comments
1. Dear one, nothing happens by daily accident -- only by divine incident.
2. What you focus on determines your level of personal peace. Someone has said, “If you look at the world you will be impressed. If you look at yourself you will be depressed. If you look at God, you will be at rest.” (5)
End Notes
(1)Joshua Partlow. The Washington Post. (quoted from the Everett Herald, Dec. 30, 2006), A3.
(2) Ibid.
(3) http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/truce.asp
(4) Rick Warren, The Power to Change Your Life, The Encouraging Word, 1990, pg. 53.
(5) Tracy Wilkinson. Bethlehem Still Can’t Find Joy in Christmas. Los Angeles Times. December 22, 2001. Website (latimes.com) pg. 1.
