Title: Peace On Earth
Text: Luke 2:1-20
Introduction: READ TEXT Can you imagine the excitement of the shepherds.
‒ Quietly tending sheep.
‒ Angels appear! “A multitude”
‒ “Heavenly hosts” Means they covered the expanse of the sky.
‒ Imagine all this for a handful of poor shepherds.
‒ God always does things in greatness.
‒ What was their announcement? It was threefold Glory, Peace, Grace!
‒ Luke 2:14 (NIV) ""Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.""
1. Glory to God!! “Glory to God in the highest...”
What could the angels possibly be glorifying God over?
A. This was the fulfillment of years of prophecy and in that God was to be glorified!
‒ God’s promise through the prophets of Messiah.
A. READ ISAIAH 53:1-8
A. It is hard to imagine that this baby Jesus would someday go through this great suffering.
B. He did it for you and me.
C. He later said, “John 17:4 (NCV) "Having finished the work you gave me to do, I brought you glory on earth."
A. Jesus knew that His purpose was to glorify God!
B. “I must work the works of Him who sent me.”
B. Not only did they glorify God because of the fulfillment of prophecy, but because of the power of God!
‒ The birth itself showed His power. Matthew 1:18 (NCV) "This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. His mother Mary was engaged to marry Joseph, but before they married, she learned she was pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit."
A. Never before and never again would this happen.
B. Jesus was born of a virgin.
‒ The fact that Jesus was now a human showed His power.
A. Philippians 2:7 (NCV) "But he gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born to be a man and became like a servant."
A. What Power! What Humility! What Love!
**No wonder they glorified God in this moment!!
2. Peace on Earth!! “...and on earth peace...” You see on the screen the broken circle. Peace is the idea of completing the broken circle.
‒ It is putting two things that are supposed to be together back together again.
1. For God, Jesus was the answer to peace on earth.
2. Jesus made peace made through the blood of the cross. Both God and Man were brought back together in the work of Jesus on calvary. (Colossians 1:20 NCV) And through Christ, God has brought all things back to himself again--things on earth and things in heaven. God made peace through the blood of Christ’s death on the cross.
1. Jesus brought two things together that had been apart for many years!
2. He brought together God and man.
3. Isaiah referred to the one to come as the “Prince of Peace.”
‒ Even today, the way to spread peace is the preaching of Jesus. (Acts 10:36 NCV) You know the message that God has sent to the people of Israel is the Good News that peace has come through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Lord of all people!
1. When we preach Christ we offer peace to others through the FORGIVENESS OF SINS!
1. Romans 5:1 (NCV) "Since we have been made right with God by our faith, we have peace with God. This happened through our Lord Jesus Christ,"
1. What better offer is there in the world?
2. When we preach Christ we offer peace to others through GIVING LOVE TO OTHERS!
1. The world is filled with people who have never known any genuine love.
1. John 3:16 (NCV) ""God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life."
3. When we preach Christ we offer peace to others through THE GIFT OF FAMILY!
1. (Galatians 3:28 NCV) “ In Christ, there is no difference between Jew and Greek, slave and free person, male and female. You are all the same in Christ Jesus.”
1. Do you know someone in your life who needs a strong family?
2. Do you know children who are being abused spiritually through neglect of proper teaching about Jesus?
1. We have a Father in heaven.
2. We have brothers and sisters. What a family!!
4. When we preach Christ we offer peace to others through THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE!!! What a thought!! Consider the following texts.
1. 1 John 5:13 (NCV) "I write this letter to you who believe in the Son of God so you will know you have eternal life."
**All these things show us that Jesus’ birth was so much more. He has changed history and given every man and woman the opportunity to experience peace!!
3. God’s Favor “...on whom His favor rests.”
‒ This was no ordinary son born. He was the one through whom the grace of God would be administered!!
1. God’s grace is favor we cannot earn. It is given.
1. Romans 5:1-2 (NIV) "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."
2. Romans 6:23 (NCV) "When people sin, they earn what sin pays--death. But God gives us a free gift--life forever in Christ Jesus our Lord."
3. Ephesians 2:8 (NCV) "I mean that you have been saved by grace through believing. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God."
1. God is even the best at gift-giving!
Conclusion: What about you?
‒ Do you glorify God through your life?
1. Matthew 5:14-16 (NCV) ""You are the light that gives light to the world. A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 And people don’t hide a light under a bowl. They put it on a lamp-stand so the light shines for all the people in the house. 16 In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven."
‒ Do you have peace through Jesus?
1. Philippians 4:6-7 (NCV) "Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. 7 And God’s peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
‒ Is God’s grace in your life? You see, you determine if it is or not!
1. Titus 2:11-12 (NCV) "That is the way we should live, because God’s grace that can save everyone has come. 12 It teaches us not to live against God nor to do the evil things the world wants to do. Instead, that grace teaches us to live now in a wise and right way and in a way that shows we serve God."
