Finding True Peace in the Advent Season

"I think the way that worldly, we would define it in worldly peace is almost just like psychological ease. An ending of any type of trouble or conflict or hostility in our life, whether that be physical or spiritual or emotional or relational. And yet what Jesus has come to offer is something more than that. We often think of peace as being that something without trial or trouble, the absence of pain and suffering, yet that's not possible in the world that we live in." [00:07:44] (27 seconds)


"And so what we need, and what Jesus bring is a peace that transcends our circumstances. And when it transcends our circumstances, what the world sees is a peace that transcends understanding, which is why Paul says we have a peace with God. That doesn't make any sense mentally. Like you can't grasp it fully because it's a peace that transcends the circumstances of everyday life." [00:08:23] (26 seconds)


"Jesus, born into the world as a human being, coming as a descendant of David, is also God himself, which means this, that Jesus, this Messianic king, this Prince of Peace, is not just a sage or a prophet come to bring good news to encourage you. He is the one and God himself made flesh to find you and to give you and bring you peace." [00:13:54] (32 seconds)


"And he's come to make peace between us and himself. And so how does this Prince of Peace operate? So the Prince of Peace is not only a man, but he is God and he operates in two ways from what the text tells us in wisdom and in justice. Verse two, it says, the spirit of the Lord will rest on him. He's the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and of might, the spirit of knowledge and a fear of the Lord." [00:14:48] (18 seconds)


"And you can even go all the way back to the first king of the Israelites. So the people of God frustrated with God came to Samuel, the prophet at the time, and said, we need a king, a ruler, one who's going to rule us and lead us. And so in rejecting God, which brings frustration, he tells Samuel, okay, you can go find this king and anoint a king. And he goes to Jesse's house." [00:16:00] (21 seconds)


"And so God, the Prince of Peace, as the great equalizer, used his power in the only way that he could to make us right with him. He lifted us up who were lowly and downtrodden and who were dead to sin and made us alive in him. But he also is gonna do this physically. He's going to literally make this happen where there's going to be a moment and a time where the Prince of Peace in using all of his power and all the wisdom in his justice and in his righteousness is gonna bring about a world where there is no more slavery or bondage, no more trafficking or a child without a home or a person who is hungry." [00:18:15] (37 seconds)


"This is the promise of the fulfillment of fullness of the kingdom of peace that he is going to bring. Not just an absence of conflict, but because of his presence, a bringing of harmony and wholeness, a flourishing and fulfillment. And how is this going to happen? Verse 9, they will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain for the earth. And this is how. For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." [00:23:00] (27 seconds)


"Jesus says, my peace I leave you, my peace I give to you. And so when we're in this pursuit of present peace now before the fulfillment of the fullness of peace that we will experience, to pursue peace now means to pursue the source of peace, which is Jesus. Jesus, do you know Jesus today? Have you trusted him fully for the forgiveness of your sin?" [00:26:07] (22 seconds)


"Philippians 4, Paul encourages us with this reality that the peace of God goes with us today through his presence and his protection. This is Philippians 4, verse 4 says this, Rejoice in the Lord always, I will see it again, rejoice. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your request to God and the peace of God." [00:27:06] (28 seconds)


"You're gonna experience the presence of God in such a way that it doesn't make sense because even though the trial may not be over with, the circumstance may not have changed, you will know that God is present and that is the beauty and the invitation of the peace that Jesus gives when he says, peace I give you. The peace that Jesus gives is not the absence of trouble, but is rather the confidence that he is there with you. He is there with you always." [00:28:43] (21 seconds)


"God created us to be in relationship with him. The relationship was distorted and broken because of our own sin. And yet not leaving us in a state of sin. John 3 .16 tells us, for God so loved the world that he gave his only son, Jesus Christ, to the world that whoever so believe in him will not perish but have eternal life. Maybe you need that peace today to know that God is for you and not against you in Jesus Christ." [00:30:52] (28 seconds)