Finding True Peace and Security in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Our Deepest Longings Point to God

Our desires for material comforts and security often reflect a deeper longing for peace and assurance, which only God can truly fulfill. This longing is a reminder of the eternity God has placed in our hearts. In the hustle and bustle of life, especially during the Christmas season, we may find ourselves yearning for things that provide temporary satisfaction. However, these desires are a shadow of the deeper need for eternal security and peace that only God can provide. As we navigate our daily lives, it is essential to recognize that our ultimate fulfillment comes from a relationship with God, who has placed eternity in our hearts. [10:48]

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV): "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."

Reflection: What is one material desire you have that might be pointing to a deeper spiritual need? How can you seek God to fulfill that need today?

Day 2: Hope Amidst Judgment

The prophecy of Micah offers hope amidst judgment, reminding us of God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant. Despite Israel's disarray, the promise of a coming Messiah assures us of God's plan for redemption. In times of chaos and uncertainty, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and lose sight of God's promises. However, the story of Israel serves as a powerful reminder that even in the midst of judgment and purification, God remains faithful. The prophecy of a Messiah coming to bring redemption is a testament to God's enduring love and commitment to His people. [12:12]

Micah 5:2 (ESV): "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel like you are facing judgment or chaos? How can you hold onto the hope of God's faithfulness in that situation?

Day 3: The Significance of Bethlehem

Bethlehem, though small and seemingly insignificant, holds great significance in God's redemptive plan. It symbolizes God's provision and the fulfillment of His promises through the lineage of David. The choice of Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah is a powerful reminder that God often uses the humble and overlooked to accomplish His purposes. This small town, known as the "House of Bread," becomes the birthplace of the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ, fulfilling the promises made to David and pointing to God's provision for humanity. [15:04]

1 Samuel 16:1 (ESV): "The Lord said to Samuel, 'How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.'"

Reflection: How can you see God's provision in the small and seemingly insignificant areas of your life? What is one way you can acknowledge and give thanks for these today?

Day 4: The Shepherd's Care

The imagery of the shepherd in Psalm 23 illustrates God's care and protection for us. Just as a shepherd ensures the peace and security of his sheep, God provides for our needs and guards us from harm. The role of a shepherd is to guide, protect, and provide for the flock, ensuring their well-being. Similarly, God, as our Good Shepherd, is intimately involved in our lives, offering guidance, protection, and provision. This imagery reassures us that we are never alone and that God is actively working to ensure our peace and security. [23:31]

Ezekiel 34:11-12 (ESV): "For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness."

Reflection: In what ways do you need to trust God as your Shepherd today? How can you actively seek His guidance and protection in your daily life?

Day 5: The Eternal King

The coming of the Messiah from Bethlehem fulfills the ancient prophecies and assures us of God's faithfulness. In Christ, we find our ultimate security, peace, and hope, as He stands as our eternal Shepherd and King. The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem is not just a historical event but a fulfillment of God's redemptive plan for humanity. As the eternal King, Jesus offers us a kingdom that will never end, providing us with the security and hope we long for. In Him, we find the assurance that God's promises are true and that our future is secure. [27:09]

Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV): "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. 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."

Reflection: How does knowing Jesus as your eternal King impact your sense of security and hope? What is one way you can live out this truth in your life today?

Sermon Summary

In this message, I invite us to reflect on what we truly desire in life, especially during the Christmas season. Often, we find ourselves yearning for material comforts, security, and peace. These desires are universal, transcending age, background, and status. We long for financial stability, a loving family, a sense of belonging, and the assurance that our loved ones will be cared for. These desires point to a deeper longing for security and peace, which ultimately can only be fulfilled by God.

The prophet Micah, speaking to a war-torn and divided Israel, reminds us of God's promises. Despite the judgment and purification that Israel faced, Micah offers hope through the prophecy of a coming Messiah. This Messiah, born in Bethlehem, a seemingly insignificant town, is a reminder of God's faithfulness to His covenant with David. Bethlehem, the "House of Bread," symbolizes the provision and hope that God offers through the lineage of David, culminating in the birth of Jesus Christ.

Micah's prophecy connects the dots from the original promise in Genesis 3:15, through the covenant with David, to the prophecy of a virgin birth in Isaiah. This lineage and prophecy assure us that God is faithful and that our ultimate security and peace are found in Him. The imagery of the shepherd, as seen in Psalm 23, further illustrates this point. Just as a shepherd provides for and protects his sheep, ensuring their peace and security, so does God care for us.

In this season, let us remember that our deepest desires for security, peace, and comfort are fulfilled in Christ. He is the Good Shepherd who stands among us, providing for our needs and ensuring our peace. As we celebrate Christmas, may we find our hope and assurance in the One who came from Bethlehem, the eternal King whose kingdom will never end.

Key Takeaways

1. Our desires for material comforts and security reflect a deeper longing for peace and assurance, which only God can truly fulfill. This longing is a reminder of the eternity God has placed in our hearts. [10:48]
2. The prophecy of Micah offers hope amidst judgment, reminding us of God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant. Despite Israel's disarray, the promise of a coming Messiah assures us of God's plan for redemption. [12:12]
3. Bethlehem, though small and seemingly insignificant, holds great significance in God's redemptive plan. It symbolizes God's provision and the fulfillment of His promises through the lineage of David. [15:04]
4. The imagery of the shepherd in Psalm 23 illustrates God's care and protection for us. Just as a shepherd ensures the peace and security of his sheep, God provides for our needs and guards us from harm. [23:31]
5. The coming of the Messiah from Bethlehem fulfills the ancient prophecies and assures us of God's faithfulness. In Christ, we find our ultimate security, peace, and hope, as He stands as our eternal Shepherd and King. [27:09]
** [27:09]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:35] - Daily Devotion Beyond Christmas
[04:11] - What Do We Truly Want?
[05:42] - Universal Desires
[07:07] - Seeking Comfort and Security
[09:41] - The Deeper Longing
[11:52] - Israel's Disarray and Hope
[13:05] - Micah's Prophecy and God's Faithfulness
[15:04] - The Significance of Bethlehem
[17:05] - The Lineage of David
[19:24] - Remembering God's Promises
[21:13] - Connecting Prophecies
[23:31] - The Shepherd's Role
[25:01] - Peace and Security in Christ
[27:09] - The Coming Messiah and Our Hope

Sermon Clips

I think a lot of us would have the same answer we would we'd say, well if we were speaking maybe somewhat frivolously we'd say well we want more money now I know we're not supposed to say that as Christians but in truth a lot of us would say that wouldn't we I wish I could have more money. [00:06:23]

Ultimately the reason we want all of these things because we want security it's because we want peace we want to be okay we we want to know that we're going to be okay we want to know that we're going to have peace we want to know that we're going to have comfort we want to know that our kids are going to be okay. [00:10:10]

Israel at the time of Micah's prophecy about 7:20 was in disarray War torn divided armies from the north were coming and judgment was upon them Micah was warning of the Judgment of God in order to purify Israel but throughout Micah's prophecy of judgment repeatedly throughout his short prophecy there was not just the warning of judgment but also the promise of hope. [00:11:45]

Bethlehem and nothing of a town small little town in the district of the region of aphria what would that have brought to their minds why does Micah reference Bethlehem because every Israelite knew the significance of Bethlehem even though it was a little town of of really no real significance. [00:15:07]

Bethlehem was that significant town in the history of Israel the town from which alimac lived and left and went to Moab with his wife Naomi her sons meon and kilon and and then came back after her husband and sons died back to Bethlehem with Ruth and they came back to Bethlehem because the famine had ended. [00:16:18]

Bethlehem which is literally the House of Bread Beth the House of Bread was now a place where bread was plentiful or fruitful and it was there where the kinsman redeemer Boaz came and saved and rescued Naomi and Ruth and their line gave Ruth a son and the women of the community of Bethlehem named him OED. [00:16:56]

David was the one to whom the Lord promised in his Covenant with David in 2 Samuel 7 that from you there shall come a king and a kingdom whose kingdom will have no end it'll be a forever perpetual Kingdom so when Micah mentions Bethlehem being a nothing of a little town Israel knew that. [00:18:09]

Don't forget Bethlehem don't forget the House of Bread don't forget God's faithfulness don't forget David don't forget God's promise and Covenant with David don't forget that there is a king coming going all the way back to the original prophecy of Genesis 3:15 one being born of the seed of the woman to crush the seed of the serpent. [00:19:00]

Micah is reminding Israel that they're going to be okay that even though there will be judgment and even though there will be purification and even though the Lord will bring his purifying work upon them the one who comes the one who comes from Bethlehem will stand and Shepherd his flock not in his own strength but in the strength of the Lord. [00:26:44]

The shepherd was the one whom the Sheep knew would take care of them the Sheep knew that the shepherd was there to protect them and to guard them that's why in Psalm 23 David says your rod and your staff they comfort me because the Sheep knew when they saw the rod that was about the length of of a shepherd's forearm. [00:23:32]

Sheep won't naturally be at peace and lie down in Green Pastures unless they are free from predators and fear and infighting and hunger and disease and the shepherd was there to ensure that the Sheep were wellfed and in order to be wellfed they had to be at peace and calm and free from fear and worry. [00:25:07]

The Shepherds had to be tough and strong and they had to be among their sheep so that they could make sure their sheep were doing well so that when they went to lie down they could lie down with full Assurance Comfort peace and security that their Shepherd was neither slumbering nor sleeping but there watching over them at all times. [00:26:06]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?