"Peace--I Need It, I Want It, God Desires Me to Have It"
Author: Dr. Neal Gray
Passage: Luke 1:67-80, KJV
Purpose: The whole world, it seems, is in turmoil. Well, let it be so; but, I need peace. Jesus is the only One who has ever brought peace to my life, and so He is the One whom I shall follow, adore, and worship.
INTRODUCTION
Opening
I don’t suppose I have ever been much of a materialist. Things, material things, do have their place in my life; but I know that "things" cannot make my life truly better. The old pop song rang out, "Can’t buy me love, no!"
What has always been important for me, and is becoming increasingly valuable to me is this: PEACE.
* I need peace: suffering through another few decades of life without peace seems an intolerable proposition. Even the Christian life needs peace.
* I want peace: who desires a life where there is no peace?
* God in Christ desires for me to have peace: that is the Christmas story, namely, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men," (Luke 2:14).
But what about peace? What about good will toward men? I can’t say that the world knows these godly things. But I can say with absolute surety: I know these things; and I want more and more peace. God approves.
Scripture
Our Scripture is the last paragraph of Luke chapter one, specifically, verses 67-80, as follows:
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying:
68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people, 69 and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David; 70 as He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began: 71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; 72 to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant; 73 the oath which He sware to our father Abraham, 74 that He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life."
76 "And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; 77 to give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins, 78 through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 79 to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.
THE NEED FOR PEACE
Introduction
So many people are looking for peace. Isn’t it true?
The World Needs Peace
Who would deny that the world needs peace? In today’s situation, we in America are fighting because of the terrorist acts on New York and the Pentagon and also in Pennsylvania. Fighting is definitely not peaceful, but we do it so that in future we shall have peace. That’s the hope.
But for now, peace is not everywhere. It never has been everywhere.
Just last week (December 7, 2001) we all remembered the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. It has been 60 years since that awful day. Peace did not follow that horrible incident; not until thousands of men died fighting a bloody war.
==> No peace. We knew, though, that we needed peace.
Christians Looking for Peace
Even in church, Christian people sometimes forget about the tremendous peace that comes with salvation in Christ Jesus. I’m trusting here that you have known "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding," (see Philippians 4:7). We Christians have all sought Jesus because we knew that OUR LIVES WERE NOT IN PEACE. We need peace.
You wouldn’t think that Christians would suffer so much, but they do. We do. And the sufferings we must endure now sometimes overwhelm us to the point that we simply lose the peace that Jesus has given to us.
In fact, over the past few years it has become clearly evident to me that peace is in short supply in church folk. And there is such a need for peace.
==> Where do we find that peace? Simply, we find peace in the words of Jesus:
"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." (John 16:33)
Remember your salvation; because that little Christ Child brought peace with Him--to give, to give, to give some more.
Pastoral Reading of the Christmas Story
Why, even just the memory of the wonder of Jesus coming to this earth brings peace to people. The story of Jesus’ birth into this world, to "save His people from their sins," (Matthew 1:21b), is such a wonderful story. It is a story of peace, of hope--of God’s love for us.
And I want to bring peace to people, as far as I can. So, in the beginning of my pastoral ministry I purposed that during the Christmas season I would go to the home of each family in our church, and read the Christmas story. (Actually, my Pastor, Rev. Marvin McDaniel, used to do this; and I thought it a good practice to continue in my ministry.)
Just a few minutes alone with the family: hearing the Word of God, the story of Jesus’ birthday, and sensing the peace of God in the house. Nearly without fail, the family seems to be at peace when I leave their home.
Falling Asleep in Peace
The first year that I pastored Jesus’ Church, Vicki and I both had other jobs. I was a bi-vocational pastor. We pastored in a town that was 92 miles from our jobs in the city! Every morning we were on the highway at 5:30 a.m., then worked all day, and drove home arriving at 7:00 p.m.
One evening in December we stopped by one of our senior couple’s home for the reading of the Christmas story.
They welcomed us into their home. Their little dog kept barking for minutes, and my tired nerves didn’t take that too well. That dog was one of those "snubbed-nose" little doggies; you know the breed I mean.
Well, after a few pleasantries we all settled back in our chairs for the reading. I read the Christmas story with as much passion and feeling as I could muster, and I could sense that they were interested.
In the middle of the story, I HEARD SOMEONE BEGIN SNORING! I thought to myself, "Now, this is a fine thing, isn’t it. Here I’ve traveled nearly 200 miles, worked all day, and here now trying to do a good thing; and they fall asleep!" The Holy Spirit gently reminded me of why I was there, and I acknowledged, "Well, bless their heart, Lord. At least they have some peace right now."
Though I wondered, I dare not look up from my Bible to see which one had fallen asleep. My eyes probably wouldn’t re-focus on the page, and I was so tired that I would surely lose my place. So I kept on reading.
But when the story was complete I quickly looked up. The husband was looking wide-eyed at me, his wife was alert and smiling, and my wife was awake, too. But that snubbed-nosed little doggie was asleep and snoring!
I Need Peace
Friends, I NEED PEACE. I need all of it I can get. And just THE MERE THOUGHT ABOUT JESUS BRINGS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PEACE. Jesus came to "guide our feet into the way of peace," (Luke 1:79b). Thanks be unto God!
THE DESIRE FOR PEACE
Introduction
Besides the actual need for peace, I long for it. I WANT PEACE. As far as I can remember, people I know have DESIRED PEACE IN THEIR LIVES.
No Peace in the Hippie Days
But I can’t remember a time when peace has permeated the whole world.
When I was a young teenager in the 60’s, with all of the trials and troubles of that day, one of the favorite songs of the hippie culture, (i.e., the hippie generation with all the foul things attached to it), had lyrics that implored, "All we are saying is, ’Give peace a chance.’"
We always talked about peace back then. Even the standard greeting among my generation had to do with peace. I can still see two long-haired boys with large bell-bottom pants, wide belts, and tie-dyed T-shirts greeting each other: "Peace, man," says one. The other responds, "Yeah, man, like, peace." They hold two fingers up in a sort of "V," the sign for peace.
We proclaimed peace; the "peace symbol" was everywhere. (The "peace symbol" looked something like a chicken foot in an oval circle; I never did understand how that symbol gained acceptance!) But there was no peace during those days either.
Still, we all long for and seek after peace.
Peace Sought for in the Olden Days
This idea of greeting one another with the term, "peace," was not new to the hippie generation. People have done this for generations.
People of the Older Testament days used to greet those they regarded as true brethren with the term, "shalom." Shalom means peace. Actually, the root meaning of the word "shalom" means to be whole, safe and sound. The idea behind shalom, behind peace, is to be a whole person who is healthy and prosperous.
Anything that contributes to this wholeness makes for shalom. The presence of shalom makes for community relationships that are wonderful-- relationships in which people participate in the blessings of God.
Anything that stands in the way disrupts shalom. The absence of shalom makes for war and turmoil and unhappiness.
People know that peace is a necessity. It is a genuine need. We seek after peace because we need peace, and BECAUSE WE WANT PEACE.
GOD WANTS US TO HAVE PEACE
Introduction
People seeking after peace is not a new concept. God’s way of giving peace has taken a totally new dimension, however, since the coming of Jesus. We can confidently say this: GOD SENT JESUS TO US TO GIVE US PEACE.
==> NOTA BENE: People of God recognize that God in Christ is the source and ground for shalom. It is God who is the giver of shalom, of peace.
God Visited Earth to Give Peace
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He hath visited and redeemed His people," (Luke 1:68a).
Yes, Zacharias, the priest and the father of John the Baptizer, who was "filled with the Holy Ghost," prophesied the truth: GOD HAS VISITED HIS PEOPLE TO GIVE THEM PEACE.
The Babe in the manger in Bethlehem on that wonderful night was none other than the Lord, and He came to help us. His name was called "JESUS," because He will save His people from their sins (see Matthew 1:21).
God wants you to have peace, and so He came to us as JESUS...
"To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Luke 1:79)
==> The Lord is blessed for who He is, blessed for what He wants to do, and blessed BECAUSE OF HIS LOVINGKINDNESS. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel! HE LONGS FOR YOU TO HAVE PEACE.
CONCLUSION
Where the Peace Meets the Road
Now, here’s where we can all benefit from God’s blessings; even in this life, even today.
I Want to Be At Peace
I trust in God. Don’t you? I believe in the Bible, too. You, also? So, since the Lord wants me to have peace, I want to live in peace, both with God and with others.
The two phrases that comes to my mind from Scripture are these, both from the Apostle Paul:
"If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, LIVE PEACEABLY with all men." (Romans 12:18)
"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, LIVE IN PEACE; and THE GOD OF LOVE AND PEACE shall be with you." (2 Corinthians 13:11)
I suppose that any one of us could easily live a life that is contrary to these instructions. It is so easy to be a person who is contrary to others. We could, if we wanted to, fight and bicker, and speak about each other’s faults and shortcomings. It would be so easy to be at odds.
==> But I don’t want that; and our God does not want that. JESUS DESIRES THAT WE LIVE IN PEACE.
So this Christmas season (2001), I will tell you my New Year’s resolution for 2002 and beyond: to live peaceably with all men, to live in peace, and as far as possible, to be God’s agent of peace for others.
God Will Give You Strength
Do you, Christian brother, Christian sister, truly want to live in peace? even in the midst of this earthly life? Is peace something that you cherish, and want more of?
I believe so strongly that God will strengthen you to live in peace. His instruction is that we simply ask:
"By prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be known unto God. And THE PEACE OF GOD, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6b-7)
Now, how can you lose?
* You have a Pastor who wants to live at peace with you.
* You have brothers and sisters in the Lord, other Christians at your church, who want to live in peace.
* And you have Jesus giving you peace.
==> If you truly desire to have peace, it is yours. That is the blessing of the Christ Child we call JESUS. Amen.
Jesus Gives Us the Peace We Seek
Perhaps you have never known the peace of God. Is your heart looking for true peace? I know you are longing for it.
We have good news for you, today. Our Lord Jesus has told us:
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)
The word for you to hear today is this: Jesus, that Babe born in Bethlehem two millennium ago, still brings peace to those who are His people.
Through our Lord Jesus, the tender mercy of our God is available to you. He will give to you knowledge of salvation by the remission of their sins.
Come. Let’s talk today about the peace of God so freely available.
Hymns & Reading
Suggested hymns and readings from the "Sing to the Lord" hymnal:
Wonderful Peace............Hymn #590
AMEN.
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Copyright 2001
Practical Holiness Ministry (r)
"BRINGING PRACTICAL IDEAS TO
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE." (tm)
You may reprint or publish or hopefully
preach this material as long as it is
not-for-profit, except that it may
profit one’s soul, (see Mark 8:36).
Dr. Neal Gray is Pastor of the Baltimore
Parkville Church of the Nazarene.
You can reach Dr. Gray by e-mail at:
mailto:drngray@earthlink.net
Also, please visit the church’s website:
http://www.ForMinistry.com/21234BPCOTN
LEARNING. MENTORING. SERVING. (tm)
2 Pet. 3:18 - 2 Tim. 2:2 - Matt. 20:26-28
All Scripture is the King James Version.
Used with God’s blessed permission.
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