Finding Peace

God wants to bring peace to a world that lacks it.

11 Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.”
- Judges 6:11-12

The peace around us is often broken.

13 And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.”
- Judges 6:13

The broken peace around us can reveal the broken pieces inside us.

15 And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.”
- Judges 6:15

We can learn to press into God’s peace.

How do we press into peace?

1. Keep on doing the right thing.

2. Look and listen for God.

3. Act in faith.

   17 And he said to him, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, then show me a sign that it is you who speak with me. 18 Please do not depart from here until I come to you and bring out my present and set it before you.” And he said, “I will stay till you return.” 19 So Gideon went into his house and prepared a young goat and unleavened cakes from an ephah of flour. The meat he put in a basket, and the broth he put in a pot, and brought them to him under the terebinth and presented them. 
   - Judges 6:17-19

4. Encounter God.

20 And the angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, and put them on this rock, and pour the broth over them.” And he did so. 21 Then the angel of the Lord reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes. And fire sprang up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. And the angel of the Lord vanished from his sight. 22 Then Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the Lord. And Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face.”
- Judges 6:20-22

The Peace of God calms our inner turmoil and enables us to answer God’s call.

23 But the Lord said to him, “Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.” 24 Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace. To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites.
- Judges 6:23-24

The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.
- Philippians 4:5-7

"What’s in a Name Anyway?"

10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”  13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ THIS IS MY NAME FOREVER and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.
- Exodus 3:10-15

“Jehovah” is self existence

Jehovah - the self existing one; One who brings things into being

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. - Hebrews 13:8

“Jehovah” cares and is personally committed to you

Jehovah - “I am” will cause things to be

 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
- Exodus 3:8

“Jehovah” has a plan and purpose for those in relationship with Him

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
- James 4:8a  

Jehovah - “I Am” will be with you

What Christmas is all About

We lose sight of Jesus when he is insignificant

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
- Luke 2:1-7

Jesus humbly reveals himself to humble hearts

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men.
- Luke 2:8-14 (KJV)

Good News in three parts

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord… 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
- Luke 2:10-11,14

1. Jesus came to be our Savior

2. Jesus came to be our Lord

3. Promises us peace

Christ and A Christmas Carol

Christmas can signal the appearance of great things.

30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
- Luke 1:30-33

Christmas might not signal the disappearance of bad things.

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
- Luke 1:34

Christmas is always a reminder of God’s love for us.

“...you have found favor with God.”
- Luke 1:30

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
- John 3:16

“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
- John 10:10

“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
- John 16:33

Christmas is an opportunity to reflect and realign our hearts with God’s heart.

What’s on God’s Heart?

1. Relationship with Him

46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…
- Luke 1:46

2. Connection

50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
- Luke 1:50

3. Care for People

52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
- Luke 1:52-53

"For All Who Truly Believe"

2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them  .…  has light shone…

6 For, to us, a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
- Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 

“The thing about Trains: It doesn’t matter where it’s going. What matters is deciding to get on.”

Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven
- Matthew 18:3

“Sometimes seeing is believing and sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see."

18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
- 2 Corinthians 4:18

“This bell is a wonderful symbol of the spirit of Christmas - as am I - But the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart.“

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
- Ephesians 3:16-18

“…the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe. “

"The Miracle of the Incarnation"

God wants to reveal Himself to the World.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 
- John 1:1-5

The world is lost in darkness.

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not understood it.
- John 1:1-5

10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
- John 1:10-11

God the Son introduced Himself through “the Incarnation.”

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
- John 1:14

“The gospel is the good news that God became Man in Jesus Christ…”
- Dr. Rice Broocks, Every Nation co-founder

The Incarnation introduces a new way of relating to God.

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
- John 1:17-18

Grace and truth transform the way we relate to God and others.

" Who’s Eating at Your Table?"

16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”
- Luke 14:16-24

The banquet reminds us of God’s generous love 

The banquet reminds us of man’s shallow heart

The banquet reminds us of God’s heart

And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?”
- 2 Samuel 9:1

3 And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” 4 The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.”
- 2 Samuel 9:3-4

6 And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” 7 And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.”
- 2 Samuel 9:6-7 

“All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master's grandson. 10 And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master's grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master's grandson shall always eat at my table.”
- 2 Samuel 9:9-10

"The Parable of the Mustard Seed"

We often come to God on a personal mission.

2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.
- Matthew 13:2

If we keep pointing to ourselves, then we’ll miss the point!

13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
- Matthew 13:13

“The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed...”
- Matthew 13:31

God’s Kingdom should be our focus because it will never fall.

31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
- Matthew 13:31-32

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
- Matthew 6:33

We find our call in God’s Kingdom.

We are called to help God’s Kingdom grow.

What’s our role in helping God’s Kingdom grow?

1. Grow closer to God

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
- John 15:5

2. Grow in Character

You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
- 1 Peter 2:5

3. Go and Make Disciples

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 
- Matthew 28:19-20

"How to change the World"

24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
- Matthew 13:24-30

37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.
- Matthew 13:37-40

Remember, the field is God’s first!

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” 
- Psalm 24:1

Allow God to change you consistently

23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty fold!
- Matthew 13:23

Allow God to use a changed “you” 

Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.
- Isaiah 43:4

Love others and endure evil

24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
- 2 Timothy 2:24-26

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
- Matthew 13:28-30

The Parable of the Sower

The Parable of the Sower

3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
- Matthew 13:3-8

18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
- Matthew 13:18-23

9 He who has ears, let him hear.”
- Matthew 13:9

Hearing leads to faith and faith leads to a fresh start.

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
- Romans 10:17

10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
- Romans 10:10

23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it.
- Matthew 13:23

Hearing and Understanding God’s Word allow us to do more than dirt!

There is something we can do to turn our hearts into good soil.