Peace On Earth - Christmas 2002
12/21/02
Opening Statement…. What do you want for Christmas?
If you could have one thing….if you could have anything you desire for Christmas this year, what would it be?
Think about that statement for a few moments and we will come back to it in just a minute.
In three days it will be Christmas.. This is the last Sunday before Christmas and I needed to determine what scripture to read for you this morning…
As I thought about what passage of Scripture to use, I thought to myself… “well, I could pick some obscure passage of scripture to use and then I could tie it into a Christmas message…
I could do that because I don’t want anyone coming in this morning and saying “Well, that is the exact same scripture the preacher used last year”, and then they tune out for the rest of the message….
That happens from time to time and I didn’t want that to happen today.
But as I pondered this, and as I read over scripture, and as I studied, I determined that there is really only one passage of scripture that should be read this Morning…
It is the same scripture that I read to my Children on Christmas Eve….. it is the same scripture that you hear people reading and talking about this time of year….
It is the passage of scripture that brings us the meaning and the reason that we have this very special celebration every year.
So please take your Bibles this morning and turn to Luke chapter 2. We will start in verse 1.
Now, this is not something I often do, but if you are physically able, would you please stand with us this morning as we read this most wonderful passage of scripture…
Read Luke 2:1-20
Prayer
You may be seated.
Ah yes… the focal passage of scripture at Christmas time… a gift has been given to us from God…
The Christ…. The Messiah… the anointed one…. Immanuel…. God with us… had been born… and the world would never be the same… praise God!
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So… Have you thought about it yet?
Have you thought about what you want for Christmas?
If you could pick anything in the world to have for Christmas this 1 time…. If you could decide what you want and you would absolutely be guaranteed of getting it…. If you could be certain of having whatever your heart could imagine…..What would it be?
ILL….. We have all heard that same basic question asked before from time to time…
We have heard people asked that if they could have any wish in the world granted… what would it be…
What comes to my mind is the Miss America Pageant… you know what I’m talking about… where the finalists are asked a question near the end of the program….
And it seems like so many of them get around to mentioning something about world peace… or something like it…
Is that what we would like to have for Christmas??
In truth, if we had one thing that we could be assured of receiving for Christmas this year…. Would it be peace on earth?
But wait a minuet??
Peace on earth… that sounds familiar.
Actually, that was mentioned in the passage of scripture we have read this morning…
Look again with me at verse 14.
Read verse 14.
Now, there are a few different translations for this passage of scripture. Most people know this famous verse as it is stated in the King James Version, and the New King James Version states it the same way …. They say,
Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
In all three of the translations we have mentioned this morning, there is the phrase “and on earth… peace”
On earth peace… this was a declaration by God’s messengers.. a declaration by angels… “peace on earth”
They were heralding it, they were announcing it as if peace had truly been brought to the earth.
Have we ever thought of this?!!!
I mean, we see this saying on Church signs at this time of year…. You can look around and see the word peace on the side of houses here in Melbourne… We can see it written in Christmas lights… we hear it advertised on radio and flashed across the screen on TV…
But if the angels were truly declaring peace on earth…… then may I ask this morning friends…… where is it at?
Where is the peace?
As I contemplated this I started going over some history. Now, I was never very good at history.. but I did come across one historian who stated that there has actually been about 286 years of peace since the start of recorded history.
For the thousands of years that history has been recorded… there have been about 286 years of peace on earth….
Now, We hear about wars and uprisings all over the world and we see these people, these ambassadors…. You know… people like Shawn Penn…. … anyway….
we hear about people trying to bring peace to warring factions, and we always hear about peace treaties…..
And we usually hear about peace treaties being broken don’t we…
Understand friends, peace treaties have been Made and Broken for thousands of years…
One historian stated that there have been over 8,000 peace treaties broken since the start of recorded history.
I mean, the term “world peace” could almost be considered an oxy moron…. You know.. the two words just don’t go together.
ILL…. I was flipping through the channels on the TV one time… you know how it is… they have over 500 channels out there now, and nothing is worth watching.
But, I came across this program that I thought was a little intriguing… this man had supposedly found a real true to life genie…. I don’t know if there was a bottle or anything because I wasn’t watching the program.
Anyway.. for his first wish… the man thought and thought about what he should wish for…. And then he wished for peace on earth..
And his wish was granted….
It was… yes… all life on earth ceased to exist.
Is that what it would take for there to be true peace on earth?
Since the fall of man, back during the dawn of civilization… mankind has been warring against each other…
Cain killed his brother able, and there has been war after war after war ever since that time.
But again, here is this declaration… this statement by the Angels of peace on earth… what is this statement all about?
It has been suggested that the different translations can help us clarify this statement. The verse that we are looking at is a little bit difficult to translate in its original Greek form and many scholars feel like the NIV translation is actually the most accurate.
“on earth peace to men on whom God’s favor rests.”
So, many scholars…. Men much more knowledgeable than myself, have suggested that the peace that the Angels have declared is only for people on whom God decides to give peace to.
Or, stating it like the scripture has… this peace is Only for those on whom God’s favor rests….
OK… lets look at that just a moment…
We know that the nation of Israel was, and is Gods chosen people. We can see this stated plainly and clearly in the Word of God…
Deuteronomy 7:6-8 says
6 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.
7 The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. 8 But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
And Psalm 105.43 says…
43 He brought out his people with rejoicing,
his chosen ones with shouts of joy;
again, talking about the nation of Israel….
And since the day of this declaration by the Angels, has the nation of Israel been at peace?
NO. They have been in the midst of war and conflict almost continuously..
And Peter said in 1st Peter 2:9
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
And Peter is talking about Christians here… so Christians are favored by God… have Christians always been at peace since the time of the Angels declaration of peace on earth?
No… Christians have had to go to war and fight and die. Christians have died in conflicts and battles…
so what were the angels declaring?
Well, maybe they were talking about the end of the millennial reign where, as Isaiah said in Isaiah 65:25,
25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox,
but dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD.
Maybe that’s what the Angels were talking about… but that doesn’t really make since does it?…
for them to declare that some day… thousands of years from the day they declare peace on earth… some day it will come about.
It has also been suggested by the writers of the Pulpit commentary, that during the time of Jesus’ birth.. which was approximately 4 B.C… They suggest that during this time there was approximately 70 years of peace, meaning that the Roman Empire was not at war with anyone.
Is that what the Angels were saying? Were they just declaring that during the time of Jesus’ birth the world was at peace?….
Well friends, I want you to understand that just because there were no wars at that particular time does not mean that there was world peace or peace on earth.
We know that within two years of the birth of Christ that King Herod had many Children put to death because he feared that the Christ Child may some day take away his kingdom…
Does that sound like peace on earth?
Ssince the fall of man up until this very day, men have had problems…
God said to Adam in Genesis 3:17…
……. “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
Sure.. peace on earth was Gods original intention… but mankind took care of that.
Mankind has suffered… Men, women and yes .. children have hurt and have been hurt, often times for no understandable reason…
What were the Angels declaring?
I want to submit to you today friends, that since the very day that Adam ate of the forbidden fruit, there has never….. listen to me now…. There has never been peace on earth!
So what were the Angels saying…
Now, don’t tune me out friends… don’t get upset by my words…. Let me continue with the message and you will understand in just a moment…
You see, I also want to submit to you today… that as of the day the Angels made their declaration… since that wonderful day Christ Jesus came into the world incarnate… in the flesh..
From the very day that Jesus was born in the lowly manger….
From that day foreword… there has ALWAYS…. Again I say there has Always been peace on earth.
Have I got you confused? How can it be both ways you may ask..
Well, let me tell you about a precious lady I know.
ILL.. Debbie ----. If you will look on your prayer list today, you will see the name of Mrs. Debbie ----. We have been praying for her for a while now. Mrs. Debbie and her entire family are very dear to our family. They have been a tremendous influence in our Christian growth. Mrs. Debbie is a strong, faithful, and very committed Christian. When I first surrendered to the ministry… I didn’t do it because I knew a lot about the Bible. I surrendered to the Ministry because I knew that God wanted me to… I found on a few occasions, while I was studying for some of my very first sermons that I would come across something I was unsure of… and I also found that when I did come across something I was unsure of, I could go to Mrs. Debbie for help because she faithfully studied the Word Of God.
A song came out a few years back that said thank you for giving to the Lord.. it is sung by Ray Boltz. It really tells of how, as truly committed Christians, we really don’t understand how many lives we touch and influence while we obey God… and we will probably never know until we get to heaven. When I hear that song… I think of this family.
Well we have been praying for Mrs. Debbie because, like so many people we know today, she was diagnosed with cancer some time back. Mrs. Debbie went through 25 rounds of radiation and she also went through Chemo therapy.
She had surgery this month and now has to go through 8 more months of Chemo therapy. She has been run down, she has been in pain and she has been very very sick. Her Husband, Dr. ------ ----, had been keeping everyone updated on her progress by email. Well on Tuesday Dec. 3rd.. Mrs. Debbie wrote an email herself.
I will just take a few excerpts from her letter instead of reading it word for word… She quoted a passage of scripture….. I find it interesting that we are going through the book of Hebrews during our Wednesday night Bible studies. And the scripture she quoted happens to be the very scripture we studied this past Wednesday night… doesn’t God work in mighty ways…
The scripture is Hebrews 10:35-39 and it says..
35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay. 38 But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
Now, I received here email just about 10 days before she was to have surgery..
And after the scripture quotation she said this….
“How about that? Isn’t He amazing!! How personally He loves us. I am a blessed woman..”
This woman who has gone through Chemo, gone through radiation, suffered pain and sickness, is looking at surgery… calls herself a blessed woman.
She continues on.
“This strength, this incredible peace…”
there is that word peace we are dealing with…
“This incredible peace can only be explained as coming from our father via your prayers.”
And when she concluded her email she said this… “I want you to know that all is well, and will be…. No matter what.”
So, what is this all about?…. How can this woman that is facing so much,.. sit there and say “all is well, and will be… no matter what”
well, quite simply.. it is because of the peace that the angels were declaring.
Many of you know psalm 23:4 in from the KJV…
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
But many of us either do no know what YEA means, or we do not think about this part of the verse. Let me read it to you from the NIV.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
The Bible says EVEN THOUGH…. You see friends, sometimes, we DO have to walk thorough the valley of the shadow of death.. but we don’t have to be fearful.. we can be at peace….
In Philippians 4:4-7 Paul says,
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Yes friends… even in this life….
Through wars and rumors of wars,
through uproar and turmoil,
through sickness and disease,
through pain and suffering,
through trials and tribulations…
WE CAN HAVE PEACE…. Because of Christ Jesus….
The declaration that the angels made was truthful… accurate… and fulfilled.
The day that Christ Jesus came to earth…….
Peace came unto all the world……..
You see, peace is not some magical life that keeps us away from the stresses of our world…
Peace is not some government rule or order that stops all wars and terrorism…
Peace is not some drug that cures all sickness and disease…
Peace IS faith in our Lord and savior Christ Jesus, which allows us to say…
All is well, no matter what.
ILL…That’s how after having a heart attack, Brother --- was able sit in a hospital bed while waiting on surgery and being able to say basically… all is well, and will be… no matter what.
ILL…That’s how Mrs. ------ could be riding in an ambulance with no idea what was wrong with her and still be able to say basically… all is well, and will be.. no matter what.
ILL… that is how so many who have gone through sickness and pain… so many that have lost loved ones… that is how so many people today can say… all is well, and will be.. no matter what.
The question for you today my friends is… do YOU have that peace???
We are going to have a hymn of invitation in a moment… that is simply a time where we are going to sing, and if you need to come foreword for prayer or to ask me a question or for any other reason you can come…
If you are a Christian here this morning and you do not seem to have peace… then maybe you just need to come and pray this morning… you are welcome to do that…
And If you are here today and you have never asked Jesus Christ into your heart… but you want to have the kind of peace we are looking at here this morning… then you can come… you can accept Christ… and you can have his peace for all eternity… if I can help you in any way… please come.
