The Peace of Christmas

made with Proclaim

Jeff Addison

The Ridge Abilene

Promise, Purpose, Power and Peace of Christmas • Sermon • Submitted 4 months ago • Presented 4 months ago • 27:30

Peace

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Good morning guest and church family,

As we begin to prepare our hearts to partake of communion this morning together I want us to consider the peace Christ brings to all those who belong to Him. My prayer this morning is that each and everyone of you belong to the Lord Jesus. Belong as in having been born of God through the power of the Gospel of God and the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Christmas is about God coming down from heaven and being born in human form. Emmanuel “God with Us” He came to bring salvation, new life, and a peace that can only be experienced by having a personal relationship with Him through His Son. It is this peace I want to talk to you about this morning.

We have been given a peace that guides us through differing situations

Peace for believers in differing situations

Those situations are personal, they can be burdensome and hard to carry. In fact we are not meant to carry them. So in times of sickness, pressure and hardships we are instructed to come to Christ.

In times of sickness, pressure and hardships

Jesus says to come to me,

Matthew 11:28 NKJV

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Rest, peace, comfort these are thing we all long for and when it comes to the believer/follower and true disciple of Christ it sweeps over the believer like a flood within their hearts even if they find themselves going through some of the most difficult times.

During the Christmas holiday it hard for so many because their loved ones are no longer here to celebrate this joyful occasion. Yet as difficult as it can be Jesus grants to us a peace beyond understanding in times of death and grief.

In times of death and grief

John 14:1–3 NKJV

1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Those are comforting words of promise and hope for a future with Him. Let us now talk about the effects of peace on a believer.

The effects of peace for believers

What are some effects of peace....

Forgiveness

Romans 12:17–19 NKJV

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Encouragement

2 Corinthians 1:3–6 NKJV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

Truly encouraging words....

Hope

Romans 15:13 NKJV

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

How believers maintain peace

Through remaining in Christ

John 15:4–7 NKJV

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

Through living by the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:6 NKJV

6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Through obedience to God’s word

Joshua 1:8–9 NKJV

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

And finally we maintain peace by prayer and meditation

Through prayer and meditation

Philippians 4:6–9 NKJV

6 Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Isaiah 26:3 NKJV

3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

Let us end today's message with one final note, there is a hope of future peace that will be for born again believers and followers of Christ.

Hope of future peace for believers

Peace in heaven

1 Peter 1:4 NKJV

4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

We look forward with great hope and peace in our hearts for God’s new creation

Peace in God’s new creation

Revelation 21:1–4 NKJV

1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Rest in these truths found in scripture and experienced in relationship to God through His son Jesus whom we come to His table in remembers of His sacrifice for us.

Let us pray:

Dear Lord, We come before you today with gratitude and humility, as we prepare to receive your holy communion.

We thank you for your grace and mercy, for your love and sacrifice, for your presence and power in our lives.

We confess that we have sinned against you. We have not loved you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

We ask for your cleansing, Lord. We ask for your healing, Lord. We ask for your transformation, Lord.

We pause now to examine our hearts and to repent of our sins. (Silent pause)

Lord, hear our prayers and accept our repentance. Restore us to the joy of your salvation. Renew us by your Holy Spirit.

Reconcile us to yourself and to one another.

We pray that as we partake symbolically of your body and blood, we may remember your death and resurrection, we may proclaim your gospel and glory, we may abide in your love and grace, we may grow in your likeness and holiness.