December 7,
2020 NOTES
NOT EDITED
Peace At All
Times
Luke 2:14; Isa.
9:7; 26:3
SIS: God’s grace gives us peace throughout the course of our lives.
Let’s read our main text this morning: Luke 2:14.
Our primary text this morning records the annunciation of peace from a Heavenly Host. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!” (Lk. 2:14)
One of Israel’s prophets gives us a prophetic description of the Messiah centuries before Jesus was born: Isaiah 9:6-7
6 For a child will be born for us, a son will be
given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah will go on to talk about “peace” 28 more times as Heoutlines the ministry of the Messiah. One of those 28 times is Isa 26:3: You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You.
There is no doubt: If we keep our minds fixed upon the Prince of Peace we will have peace in our lives all the time. Yet, we all know that much of our life—perhaps even most of it—it characterized by conflict, not peace. The apparent contradiction between what God promises and what we experience has to do with a misunderstanding of what “peace” in the Bible means.
The Peace that Jesus gives is not the absence of trouble, but is rather the confidence that He is there with you always. Biblical peace is not the absence of trouble but the Presence of God.
God promises peace but we experience near constant conflict of some type. It may be global conflict, as in war, or personal, as with some other individual. We come face to face with the great irony of human existence; peace is highly valued but seldom experienced for long. I once read that in the entire history of the world there has only been a total of about 200 years of peace.
Conflict, not peace, is
the default setting for humanity. A close examination of Luke’s verse elucidates
the fact that the Bible recognizes the human predicament—a strong desire for peace, but a
near constant experience of conflict.
The resolution to this apparent contradiction is to understand the
biblical word, “peace.”
The Latin word for peace, “pax,” has the meaning we most commonly associate with peace—the legal or political agreement for two or more parties to cease from war. The English word for peace comes from Latin through Middle English and carries this same meaning—a cessation of conflict.
The Greek word, eirene (eh ray nay), in Classical Greek has a similar meaning to the Latin word, pax. But, when this classical Greek word gets Baptized into the Christian text, it has a different focus. It does not primarily refer to a legal or political relationship between parties, but an “all-encompassing sense of well-being about life.”
The different focus of eirēnē in the N.T. comes from the influence of the O.T. word, shâlōm (shaw lome). Eirēnē is used to translate shâlōm in the Greek translation called the Septuagint. Scholars recognize it is an inadequate equivalence (as most translations are). Eirēnē and pax both describe a cessation of conflict. Shâlōm focuses on a state of well-being resulting from a relationship with Almighty God. Shalom can include the idea of a cessation of conflict. Shâlōm can also emphasize the prosperity that can arise from peace. Unlike eirēnē and pax, however, shalom focuses more on a state or sense of well-being wholly independent of circumstances. Shalom focuses not on circumstances but on a “covenant of peace with God” (Isa 54:10). So, eirēnē, peace as used in the N.T., focuses on one’s relationship to Yahweh, God, more than on one’s circumstances.
Perfect peace is not about perfect circumstances—Joseph and Mary’s circumstances were far, far from perfect—but on a relationship with the Perfect Prince of Peace. We can be in a state of peace, even when war rages all around us. I’ve taken a great deal of time to outline how God’s peace is more than the absence of conflict, because this is so important to our well-being now, and in eternity
I want to move through the Word of God and demonstrate that at every stage of our lives, regardless of circumstances, we can have peace, if as Luke declares, “God’s favor rests upon us.
1. If God is with you and His favor rests upon you, you will be at peace IN THE WORKING TIMES of your life (Haggai 1:1-6
1 In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest: 2 “The Lord of Hosts says this: These people say: The time has not come for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt.” 3 The word of the Lord came through Haggai the prophet: 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” 5 Now, the Lord of Hosts says this: “Think carefully about your ways: 6 You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough to be satisfied. You drink but never have enough to become drunk. You put on clothes but never have enough to get warm. The wage earner puts his wages into a bag with a hole in it.”
So many people are filled with stress and dissatisfaction in regard to their work, or vocation in life because they focus on worldly success instead of the Savior of the Word. Many sweat and strive, but never get ahead. Money disappears like coins dropped into trousers with a hole in the pocket. Many people feel they don’t have a “piece”of the pie and so, they have no peace in their lives.
Nothing is more
frustrating to our peace of mind than to strive and work hard but seem to make
no progress. But peace is about a
personal relationship with God, not our productivity index at work. Many, most
people actually, think peace can be found simply by staying ahead of all the
other “rodents in life’s rat race!”
A first– grader by the name of Angie came home from school one day proudly wearing a blue ribbon pinned to her shirt. She had won “first place” in her class’s natural history contest. She drew a giraffe with “three legs.” Her Mom (having not been trained by HeadStart) questioned the little girl’s picture: “But, honey, your giraffe only has three legs. A giraffe has four legs.” Not deterred, the little girl spoke brightly, “Yeh, I know. But I was the closest one in the class.”
That is a sweet story but at its core is the rotten philosophy of modern success: the modern mindset tells mankind that success is merely staying ahead of the next guy. When we do this, even being top rat in the race will not bring us peace. Productivity without a personal relationship with God will make the “working times of our lives” bitter, disappointing, and full of conflict. We must dedicate even our “working times” to God to be at peace. The Bible tells us,
Col. 3:23 23 Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men.
If you want to experience “peace” in the working times of your life, you must keep God in the equation of what it means to be “truly successful.” We may work “at” the factory, but we work “for” the Lord. That’s the key to peace in the working times of life.
2. If God is with you and His favor is upon you, you will have peace IN THE WAITING TIMES of your life (Psalm 27: 1-3, 14)
Psalm 27:1–3 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my
life—of whom should I be afraid? 2 When
evildoers came against me to devour my flesh, my foes and my enemies stumbled
and fell. 3 Though an army deploys
against me, my heart is not afraid; though a war breaks out against me, still I am confident.
.................................................
The word translated “wait” in this passage means “to bind together, or gather.” There should never be a wasted or useless moment in the life of a believer. It is very frustrating and disturbing to think that any of the precious few moments of our lives are being “wasted by useless waiting.” Wasted waiting destroys one’s peace of mind. Like the Psalmist surrounded by enemies wanting to “devour his flesh,” our circumstances may scream, “Run, run,” but our Lord says, “Wait.”
I’ve read where we spend literally years of our lives, “Waiting. . .” at the bank; at the grocery store; at the doctor’s office; for our kids to come home; for our “babies to be born.” . . . ; or, for a prayer to be answered. Wait, wait, wait. So much of life is “waiting.”
We can’t get
around “waiting times” in life. It begins very early in our development. A teen-aged boy decided to ask
a girl to the Winter Dance. She agrees, and he decides to rent a suit. The rental has
a long line, so he waits
and waits in line, and finally he gets his suit. He decides to
buy flowers,
so he goes to the flower shop. The flower shop has a long line, so he waits and waits, until he
finally buys flowers. He picks her up at her house and they go to the dance.
There is a long line
into the dance,
so they wait and wait. Finally, they get into the dance, and he offers to get
the girl a drink of punch. So he goes to the drink table where the punch bowl
was . . . . . . . . . now, YOU ALL
have to wait . . . there is no punch line.
Remember, the Hebrew word for wait can mean, “to gather.” When we wait on the Lord as the Psalmist instructs us, we are not “wasting our time,” we are gathering our strength and collecting our spiritual resources.
Waiting, when God is in it, is not a wasting time but making the best use of time. The greatest waste of time is not “waiting on God,” but going on ahead without him.
God does indeed have great blessing in store for us – but we must wait—but, when we have the assurance and hope of better things to come, we can have “peace in the waiting times of life.”
Do not move a muscle or move ahead one inch in your life until you are certain that God is with you and His favor is upon you. If you do not wait on God, you will not have peace in your life.
3. If God is with you and His favor rests upon you, you will have peace IN THE WORRYING TIMES of your life (Phil. 4:6)
6 Don’t
worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
Everyone worries. Some people even worry when they have nothing in their life to worry about. It is human nature. The Nativity Story is full of circumstances that could cause great worry and anxiety.
Joseph had plenty to worry about. His wife was pregnant—with the Son of God, no less! She was ready to give birth and all the rooms in town were full. Mary had more than enough to worry about. She knew that Joseph was worried. Nothing worries a wife more than knowing her husband is worried. This was Mary first child. She was young and no doubt scared. Everyone in Bethlehem had reason to worry. They were all on their way to a TAX AUDIT! Life will never disappoint you by leaving you with nothing to worry about.
Life does not have to be perfect for us to live in perfect peace.
One of my
favorite authors wrote a book with a great title. Barbara Johnson knew great trials in life. She wrote a book titled, “Pain is
Inevitable But Misery Is Optional, So Stick a Geranium In Your Hat And Be
Happy.” Worry is optional. You
can either choose to worry, or choose to pray—but the human spirit cannot do
both at the same time. Paul says (Phil.
4:6),
6 Don’t worry about anything, but in
everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be
made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought,
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6).
When you are worried, turn your problem into a prayer. Cast your cares upon Him because He cares for you. We can have peace in times of worry when we know God’s favor rests upon us.
4. If God is with us and His favor rests upon us, we can be at peace IN THE WANING TIMES of our lives (Lk 2:25-30; 36-38)
25 There
was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and
devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on
him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he
would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Guided
by the Spirit, he entered the temple complex. When the parents brought in the
child Jesus to perform for Him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon
took Him up in his arms, praised God, and said: 29 Now, Master,
You can dismiss Your slave in peace, as You promised. 30 For my
eyes have seen Your salvation
..................................................................
At that same time, there was an elderly prophetess name Anna, who had lived in
the temple for 50 to 60 years without ever leaving, spending her life in
fasting and praying. She saw the child,
Jesus. Look at verse 38 At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and
to speak about Him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of
Jerusalem.
I’ve preached this text about these two old people for over 40 Advents. Now, I’m living the story. If you live long enough, you will get old. And, if you get old, your strength, your health, and your wealth will wane – which means “lose strength or power.” I know all the clichés like, ❶“you are only as old as you feel.” Well, somedays I feel 64! And, there’s that one about ❷“age is just a number.” Yep, it sure is, and the larger the number the greater the challenges in regard to strength and health.
Even cars wane, or lose power. Mechanics call it low compression. You don’t have the same “punch in your pistons.” You don’t have enough “carbs” in your carburetor. I know some of you youngin’s don’t believe it, but sooner than you think, you will find your “get up and go done got up and left!”
Even something as simple as going to the movies can become a challenge in the “waning times” of life. Two old guys, Fred and Sam went to the movies. A few minutes after it started, Fred heard Sam rustling around and he seemed to be searching on the floor under his seat. "What are you doing?" asked Fred. Sam, a little grumpy by this time, replied "I had a caramel in my mouth and it dropped out. I can't find it." Fred told him to forget it because it would be too dirty by now. "But I've got to", said Sam, "my teeth are in it!"
Paul understood the “waning times of life,” but was still at peace. He declared with great confidence: 2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.
The legacies of Simeon and Anna can be a great source of “peace” when our waning time arrives.
Let me sum up what we have learned this morning. Peace can be our gift from the cradle to the grave . . . . in our Working Times; in our Waiting Times; in our Worrying Times and in our Waning Times if God is with us and His favor is upon us – we can have peace within us, when God’s favor is upon us.
Let’s not just celebrate peace this Advent . . . let’s live it!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.