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)
Romans 5:1-2
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
GOD OF PEACE AND LOVE
CHRIST FULFILMENT OF THE FIRST MESSIANIC PROPHECY*
Romans 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
FIRST MESSIANIC PROPHECY
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”
BE MADE COMPLETE – LIVE IN PEACE AND GOD WILL BE WITH YOU
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
PEACE “OF” GOD – “OF”
A PEACE LIKE NO OTHER. UNDEFINED, UNFATHOMABLE,
INNER PEACE WHEN EVERYTHING AROUND YOU IS CHAOS.
PEACE THAT WILL CALM YOU IN THE STORMS OF LIFE.
PEACE THAT GUARDS, SHIELDS, SECURES YOUR HEART (EMOTIONS) AND MIND (THOUGHTS) THROUGH JESUS
Philippians 4:4-7
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
MAKE IT A PRIORITY. LET GOD’S PEACE RULE IN YOUR HEART. LOOK TO GOD, HOPE IN GOD, TRUST IN GOD, AND LET HIS PEACE CARRY YOU.
Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
I AM REMINDED of the words of Psalms 42, when the Psalmist writes that when he feels alone, depressed and in despair, he must remind himself…LOOK TO GOD, HOPE IN GOD.
In that same manner, it is a decision that we make internally to “LET GOD’s PEACE RULE IN OUR HEART.”
The world wants to take that peace from us.
But we must instinctively as a CHILD OF GOD, LET and ACTIVATE GOD’s PEACE in our hearts.
LET HIS PEACE RULE!
PEACE “IN” CHRIST – “IN”
“IN CHRIST” BECAUSE HE HAS OVERCOME THE CHAOS AND EVIL AND CONFLICTS OF THIS WORLD. HE ALONE PROVIDES US WITH INNER PEACE THROUGH HIS VICTORY ON THE CROSS.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
GOD OF PEACE, LORD OF PEACE MAKES US COMPLETELY HOLY IN MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT
HE DOES IT. NOT US, HE IS FAITHFUL AS HE PROMISED. BE HOLY FOR I AM HOLY.
BENEDICTION
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!
AMEN
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Bill
