Christmas Beyond Compare - Peace beyond Compare - Is 9:6-7
Gladstone Baptist Church - 5/12/04 pm
Tonight we are starting a Series of 3 messages leading up to Christmas. Christmas is one of the most amazing times of the year. Why is it so amazing - It is amazing because at Christmas, Jesus gives us gifts that are beyond compare. You think you’ve done well when someone this Christmas gives you that super dooper widget from the car place or that whatamacallit from the hardware or the thingemy bob from Big W. But these pale into insignificance in comparison to what God gives to us at Christmas. So this Christmas we are going to be looking at 3 gifts which are beyond compare. The first one I want to look at tonight is Peace. Next Sunday morning we’ll look at Joy beyond compare and then Christmas morning we’ll look at Hope beyond compare.
If someone were to ask you “What is Peace” how would you answer them. Peace is something that everyone wants, but no one has a clear understanding of what it is or how to get it.
I looked up the Oxford Dictionary to try to find out what Peace was all about and I found out that the dictionary says that Peace means
- Quiet, tranquillity; mental calm
- freedom from or cessation of war
- a treaty ending a war
- freedom from civil disorder
So peace seems to happen when conflict and problems are not present or when I am not anxious.
That is true - here are 5 circumstances when I don’t think many people would have much peace ...
1) When life’s POSITION is uncontrollable - we lose our peace. When we plan for one thing and something else happens instead we get frustrated. We don’t like a life that is out of control. (Job 30:26)
2) When PEOPLE are unchangeable - we lose our peace. “Why can’t they be more like me!!!” People are frustrating aren’t they - they make us lose our peace.
3) When PROBLEMS are unexplainable - we lose our peace. I am happy when I do something stupid and there are consequences, but what about cancer or illness or even death. Why does it happen to some and not others. Peace when facing those sort of circumstances is difficult to come by.
4) When PAIN is unbearable - we lose our peace. It hurts too much to be at peace with the world.
5) When the PAST is unforgiven - we lose our peace. Conflict still exists when people haven’t forgiven each other.
Peace seems impossible to achieve when you look at these things doesn’t it - there are always people causing trouble for us or problems that we can’t figure out or guilt that we can’t escape from. How can we ever get peace? The dictionary doesn’t help here, So I went to the internet and looked up “Getting Peace” and I found lots of ideas that people proposed to tell me how I could get peace.
One idea was MEDITATION .... I was told “Meditation does not mean renunciation of our desires but it guides us that while enjoying this beautiful world, we must not become slave of our desires. ... We should maintain balance between all these [desires] to enjoy happy and the relaxed life. When a person is able to do this he will never be unhappy in his life.” So all I have to do is meditate in order to control my desires. Great - I meditate on my desires in order to control thinking about my desires - sounds like a plan.
Another Idea was MEDICATION .... I read about a man who was ordering valium over the net in order to combat insomnia and Stress. He said “I’m getting “peace of mind. I have been on it for two years now. There are no problems and no side effects that I’m aware of." So medication is the way to get peace ... until the side effects kick in.
Another Idea was MEDIATION .... I was reading some old news articles about the Middle East Peace Plan. It was interesting to look back at a news article from April last year when the peace plan was brokered after months or years of mediation. But no soon was it released, than this was reported. “Soon after the new Mideast peace plan was delivered to Israeli and Palestinian leaders Wednesday, objections were raised about the so-called road map. The plan aims to establish Palestinian statehood by 2005. The Israelis have called for at least 15 changes to the road map and have said it should not be implemented until terror attacks on Israelis end”. So it doesn’t look like mediation is going to work either.
Another Idea was the MEDITERRANEAN aboard the “Queen of Peace” a 88’ schooner .... Come and take a break in this superb, air-conditioned motor-sailer offers every facility for comfortable cruising. Her elegant interior has been stylishly finished. So I can be at peace until my money runs out it looks like.
One last Idea was MEDIAL EXITATION. What is that? Walking - I came across walks for Peace all over the place. Peace walks about the war in Iraq, for peace and justice, for women against war, etc. But I don’t see them stopping any wars. Then I came across a site that said that “Relaxing Walks give peace and health. “The act of placing one foot in front of the other and feeling the rhythm of movement can focus the mind if it’s reeling from a tough question. Going out for fresh air or a change of scenery can also soothe a moment of burning exasperation or blinding anger.” So walking can give you peace - so long as you are walking that is. If you feel a bit of anxiety coming on - just get up and start walking.
People try to find peace in all sorts of places don’t they, but people never find peace that lasts. That is because people think that peace is the absence of something. You can try to think about other things other than the problems (Meditation), get drugged up so you forget the problems (Medication), try to solve your problems (Mediation), go on a holiday (Mediterranean) or get distracted (Medial exitation) but none of these achieves lasting peace. Even if you manage to get rid of problems or conflict for a short time, It is only time until a new wave of problems washes over you and your life comes crashing to the ground.
Tonight, I want us to recognise that, peace doesn’t come by somehow miraculously getting rid of all our problems, but it actually comes from the addition of something. The Bible term for peace is this word “Shalom” which comes from a Hebrew word means to be COMPLETE, WHOLE OR SOUND. By implication, being at peace is to be healthy or well in oneself - physically, emotionally as well as socially. Most people in our world today are not whole or healthy and do not have a good relationship with those living around them let alone with God. To be at peace in God’s thinking is to be healthy, to be whole and to have good relationships - with other people and also with God. To be at peace is to be in a condition where everything is stable, solid, dependable and reliable.
And that is the gift that Jesus came offering us.
Is 9:6-7
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.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
Isaiah says that Jesus will be called the prince of peace and that he will establish an eternal peace.
That very first Christmas, Jesus brought peace. The angels proclaimed it to the shepherds on the hills - do you remember what they said? Luke 2:14
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
God promises to give peace to those on whom his favour rest. On whom does his favour rest? On those who receive his Son Jesus Christ. The peace that God offers to each and every one of us is a gift that is ours for the taking and can bring health and wholeness to our lives - physically, emotionally and socially. John 14:27 “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.” The world seeks peace by getting rid of problems, but the Peace Jesus brings is a peace despite the problems, not a peace without the problems. Someone wrote that “Peace doesn’t come with the absence of the storm; it comes in the presence of the storm because Jesus is walking there beside us and we’ve got our eyes on Him.”
Some of you might think that peace with problems is no peace at all. But remember that when the bible talks about Peace is not absence of problems, but the addition of something you need to be whole.
I want to spend the rest of this evening telling you about 4 things that Jesus’ peace specifically brings us in order to make us whole ...
1) Jesus offers Peace of a SOLUTION to our guilt (Rom 5:1)
The greatest thing that Jesus Peace brings is a solution to our guilt. Jesus came down to this earth as a baby to grow into a man and to die for us. Why? Because in God’s eye’s every single one of us were guilty of sin (big or small, black or white - it doesn’t matter what type). We are all guilty of doing something wrong and because of that God is unable to accept us into his Heaven.
We can try anything and everything - going to church, being kind, giving our money away ... anything and everything - but nothing can take away the stain of this guilt. And because we are stained, we are destined for eternal separation from God. The bottom line is that he can’t have something that is stained in his perfect heaven. Our lives can never be peaceful in this state - they can’t be whole, stable and complete - because we can’t have a relationship with God.
But Jesus brought a solution to our guilt. He lived a perfect life and offered to die to pay the penalty that was demanded for our guilt. He died for you - the pay the penalty for your sin. Your debt was paid for completely and if we accept what He has done, God wipes the slate clean and in his eyes we are no longer guilty of anything.
Rom 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Isaiah the prophet puts it this way ...
Is 53:5 - But he [Jesus] was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
We deserved punishment because we were guilty, but Jesus died and took the punishment for us. He died and through his death, we can be healed from our guilty conscience. We can be free from the condemnation. We can be whole and healthy - because we don’t have any guilt - we can be at peace. So Jesus’ gift of Peace firstly brings with it a solution to our guilt.
2) Jesus offers Peace of a SON / DAUGHTER Relationship with God
Because Jesus gave us a solution to our guilt problem, we can now have a healthy and complete relationship with God our creator without worrying about judgement. There is nothing that is blocking the way from us having the deepest and most intimate relationship with God that you could imagine.
In fact, when we receive the gift of forgiveness that Jesus offers, we become Sons and Daughters of God. We become heirs of God ...
Gal 3:26-29 - You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Our forgiveness by God doesn’t become merely make us aquaintances with God, it makes us sons and daughters and we share in all the benefits that that holds. We have peace - a complete and healthy life because we have a complete and perfect relationship with God as our Father.
3) Jesus offers Peace of a SPIRIT CONTROLLED Life
Jesus came to offer us a complete and whole life by offering to offer a solution to our guilt problem and bring us into son or daughter relationship with God. This process of salvation involves several steps which were seen so clearly in Andrea’s baptism this evening.
„« There is the dying to our own wills. We put aside how we want to live and surrender our life to Jesus, knowing that without Him we can’t have peace - a complete and whole life. That is symbolised by the going down into the water. At this instant there is forgiveness granted and a cleansing of the stained life.
„« Then there is the raising up of a new person - that’s the coming back up out of the water. And I’m sure that Andrea is very glad that there is this second step. The new person is a person who seeks to live their lives following Jesus and living according to his standard. This new person takes Christ as their role model and seeks to live their life like Him. Now I don’t think for one moment that Andrea has been transformed and will keep her bedroom tidy for the remainder of her days, or never have a bad thought. The process of changing to become like Jesus lives life in the image of Jesus is a slow process that will take the rest of our lives. It is not easy, but Jesus gives us a great helper for the task. His name is the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who helps us to change our life and become more like Christ.
Jesus told his disciples that he was leaving them before He died. He promised however that when he was gone, he would send a helper. (John 14:26-27)”the Counselor, 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. 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.”
Jesus was gone, but the Holy Spirit had come to guide and lead the disciples on in the way they should live and this life brings with it peace.
Rom 8:4-6 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;
One of the consequences of following the Spirit’s lead is that we have a complete and whole life - a peaceful life.
Notice that none of the things we’ve spoken about here mentions trying to get rid of problems. Getting peace is not about eliminating problems, but about adding things that will make your life complete - Adding forgiveness, a relationship with God and the Holy Spirit. One of the consequences of living such a complete life is that other aspects of your life also become whole and complete - you have peace in other aspects of life. For example ... in friendships.
1 John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all a sin.
When we have a complete [peaceful] relationship with God, we will have healthy relationships with others - why? Because we have his spirit living in us, transforming our minds and our attitudes towards others. And how does Christ view other people - He loves them, He died for them. He might not like what they do, but he sure does love them as people. Jesus’ peace brings satisfaction to our friendships.
4) Jesus’ Peace brings SECURITY in eternity
The last thing that Jesus’ peace brings us is Security in eternity. Have you ever wondered why you are here on this earth. Knowing Jesus and sharing in the complete life he has planned for you brings sense to your life. You are not here to make heaps of money and enjoy life. You are here to prepare yourself for eternity - an eternity spent either with God or apart from God. What you do here on earth will determine where you spend eternity.
Your existence isn’t just the short 70, 80 or 90 years you spend on this earth. If that was all there was, you would be justified in trying to get rid of all your problems and trying to live as comfortably as you could. But when you understand the big picture you recognise that this life here on earth is just a costume fitting for the real performance. You will never get real peace by solving your problems here on earth, because although you might have got some semblance of enjoyment out of this life, you have neglected the eternity that will follow.
Jesus came to earth that first Christmas so that you could find a solution to your guilt so that you could enter into a Son / Daughter relationship with God and enjoy a Spirit-Controlled Life. This is what is needed to gain security in eternity. Without the forgiveness Christ offers, without a relationship with God, without a life surrendered to God and controlled by His Holy Spirit, you will not find a place in heaven.
Conclusion
This Christmas, God offers you a gift beyond compare in the form of Peace. It is not the peace that most people in this world are seeking. It is far superior to that - it is so much better that it is a waste of time trying to even compared them. God’s peace is that of a complete and whole life. Not just for the remaining minutes, hours, days and years you live on this earth, but also for all of eternity.
Today you can receive Jesus Christ’s peace. The Peace Jesus brings offers you a Solution to your guilt, a Son / Daughter relationship with God, a Spirit controlled life and Security in eternity. And it is on offer to you this Christmas time.
Have you got peace in your life at the moment. I’m not asking whether you are currently problem free or not in any fights. I’m asking whether your life is whole, complete, full and perfect? If it is not, you have the opportunity to find Peace this Christmas. Jesus is the Prince of Peace who can bring you peace. It is yours for the taking- will you receive it this Christmas.
