Isaiah 9:6 we want peace
- Christmas is a season that carries with it the promise of peace—a longing that has echoed throughout history, even in the darkest of times. One of the most remarkable examples of this is the Christmas Truce of 1914 during World War I.
- Picture this: The world was at war. Trenches stretched across Europe, dividing soldiers who fought under different flags but faced the same horrors—cold, hunger, fear, and the ever-present threat of death. No man’s land was a barren expanse of mud and despair, filled with the sound of gunfire and the cries of the wounded. Yet, on Christmas Eve, something miraculous happened.
- It began with carols. Silent Night drifted across no man’s land, sung first in German, then joined by English voices. Soldiers on both sides, who had been fighting fiercely just hours before, laid down their weapons. They climbed out of their trenches and met in the middle. There, they shook hands, exchanged small gifts, shared food, and even played soccer. For a brief moment, the war stopped—not because of political negotiations or military orders, but because of the power of Christmas and the shared desire for peace.
- What would make men defy orders and risk everything to seek peace, even if only for a night?
- What was it about Christmas that pierced through their fear, their hatred, and their division?
- Why is it that the commemoration of the arrival of the Christ child has such an indelible mark on human history that nearly everyone takes part in
- No matter your belief in the God, Jesus or the Bible, people want the peace of Christmas.
- You may be going through a battle, but the prince of peace wants to bring you his peace.
- We all want peace. We want to experience it in our lives
- pursue peace because Peace Reflects God’s Character
- God is the “God of peace,” and His nature is the foundation for true peace. When we embrace peace, we reflect His character and demonstrate His presence in our lives.
- This peace is not merely an absence of conflict but the fullness of God’s blessing and wholeness.
- We, who are made in the image of God, inevitably want to reflect his character, which is peac.e
- Isaiah 9:6: For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
- This elusive peace that most men seek after, come from our image deo. We are made in the image of God, God’s nature and character is peace. The bible calls him ‘the God of peace’ 4x
- Your longing for peace is rooted in an understanding of God’s character being peace. Embrace it
- You are hard wired for peace. This is why people long for cabins in the woods. Camping etc.
- pursue peace because Peace with God Restores Relationships
- Sin fractured humanity’s relationship with God- our relationship was broken
- Hark the herald– Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.
- Through the arrival of Jesus, we will be reconciled to God and restored to peace
- Without this peace, there can be no true spiritual life or joy. There was enmity. Now there is not
- Ro 5:1: having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Have you ever been at odds w someone? Some people like it. I don’t. lets make it right.
- When you’re in sin- it fractures w God. Through Jesus, you can be back in relationship w him.
- And if you’re saved, this feeling torments you when rel. is broken. You want to restore the peace
- Colossians 1:20: And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
- But its not just peace with God, its peace with others. You restore ALL relationships.
- pursue peace because Peace Guards Our Hearts and Minds
- This world can give you anxiety- you need God’s peace to make it. It’s like a shield, anything that comes, you have the peace of God that passes all understanding. You trust and have peace
- Wars, economies, sickness, jobs, bills, money, etc. its precarious. Nothing is set. It can all change
- Philippians 4:6-7: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
- You pray, you turn it over to God and say- I’m done with this. (this week, kasey helping church)
- sa 26:3: You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. BUT YOU HAVE TO EXERCISE your mind- no one else- it comes in- and you go- NO
- when you have the peace of God, it guards your mind from circumstantial attacks of despair
- pursue peace because Peace Is a Fruit of the Spirit
- Peace is evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives and reflects spiritual maturity.
- If you don’t ever have peace, you got to spend more time in the spirit- it’s a fruit.
- And like any fruit- if there’s none on the tree- assess why- water, soil, sun etc
- Change something about your situation, and watch the fruit grow.
- Gal 5:22: the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.
- One of the greatest reasons you may not be getting peace is because you’re not sowing it
- James 3:18: Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
- Some people sow discord and reap the fruit of it in rel. I’m not a pleaser- but I want peace
- But you want it, and you can have it, as you walk with the holy spirit.
- pursue peace because Peace Enables Healthy Relationships
- You cant have godly relationships w/o peace. It hurts your life w no peace
- In your home, if there is no peace, your children are going to rebel against you and God
- Guy this wk- go to church- mom come home and beat him. Hated God. No peace
- How you live at home matters. Drinking, weed, abuse, no closeness, etc. they watch.
- Create peace in your space. Don’t allow it to be a place of chaos. I’m helping you here.
- Jesus called His followers to be peacemakers, showing that peace is not passive but actively pursued. Without peace, relationships are marred by conflict and division. What are you?
- Matthew 5:9: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
- Romans 12:18: If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
- Heb 12:14: Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
- pursue peace bc Peace Sustains Us Through Trials
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- Life is filled with tribulations, but God’s peace sustains us in the midst of them.
- Watch someone go through something and you’ll see how much peace they have
- If you live a life of peace- the inevitable trials that come, are not insurmountable.
- Jesus promised that in Him we would find peace, even as we face challenges.
- This peace brings strength, hope, and the assurance of victory through Christ.
- John 16:33: These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
- Those who walk with Jesus daily will experience the peace of Jesus daily. It wont merely be an idea that lives on a page- it will be an actual experience of peace.
- Peace is calmness. Not just absence of conflict. It can be a feeling. You feel peaceful.
Psalm 29:11: The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace. - There’s nothing that says that you have to act the fool while you’re going through something
- Weird phenomenon with humans- we rarely ask for comfort from others in the midst of trials, we feel as tho we need to act despondent to those who are around us, to get them to recognize we lack peace, and reach out to us, don’t be that guy- ask for prayers and encouragement
- Sometimes you’re actually overwhelmed, yes. But God can give you peace in the midst of anything. Ask for prayers. Say you need to talk. Learn to rest in Jesus and not be overwhelmed.
- pursue peace because Peace Leads to Holiness
- Peace and holiness are deeply interconnected.
- A life of peace reflects a heart aligned with God, and without both, we cannot fully experience His presence. When we do not live in the peace of God, we cannot walk in the holiness of God
- When you live a tumultuous life, you are living contrary to how God intended you to live.
- God wants you to have a peaceful life. You’d say- well, circumstance keeps happening
- Is it circumstance? Or is it the culmination of repeated bad decisions or contrary living?
- Peace allows us to live in harmony with God’s will and with others.
- Living contrary to the scriptures will ensure that you never have peace because God wants you to live in line with the scriptures so you can have peace.
- Chaotic people rarely walk in peace or holiness bc they constantly live contrary to the scriptures
- Heb 12:14: Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
- If you want to see peace- pursue peace and HOLINESS
- Build peace in your relationships. Today. Quit fighting w boss, spouse, kids, friends, etc
- Be a peaceful person- remove turmoil from your life in daily interactions
- Stop living contrary to the scriptures- sexual sin, substance abuse, thievery, porn etc
- Desire to honor God in every area of your life. Christianity v churchianity
- Why do I preach this? People are great liars. Sometimes after YEARS I find out physical abuse, substance abuse, child neglect. All makes sense after- but I trust people.
- If you’re squared away- fine. But stop lying to God and people. You don’t find peace through lying and pretending something that you’re not. Cognitive dissonance.
- James 3:17: But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
- This is wisdom from above! You do things the God way you get the God results.
- People often come into our home, even our old home ‘your house is so peaceful’
- Yes. We want it that way. We create an environment that sustains it.
- pursue peace because Peace Brings Contentment
- A peaceful heart rests in God’s provision and timing. You know he has you taken care of
- There are things outside of your control that you cannot change. You must wait on God.
- Most of us are waiting for something. Something to improve, or change, or heal
- Something to be brought into our life, or taken out of it. More or less of something
- But when you have This peace it allows us to live free from striving and worry, fully trusting in His care. You know that he will take care of it in his timing.
- Christians trust God and his timing. Waiting is always part of the experience. Great.
- But peace brings a sense of contentment and stability, no matter the circumstances.
- Isa 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
- When you trust his timing- you cease to care about the TIMING. You know it will happen
- You’ve been walking with God enough that the timing is irrelevant. You know he will
- I have learned that Gods timing is perfect and if it happened differently, it wouldn’t have worked
- pursue peace because Peace Witnesses to the World
- Living in peace testifies to the transforming power of the gospel In a divided and chaotic world
- the peace of Christ within believers stands out as a powerful witness of God’s love and truth.
- When everyone else is losing their minds, we stand in the midst and display our peace.
- Ephesians 2:14 For He Himself is our peace
- When we walk in the supernatural peace that the Holy Spirit bestows on us, we display to the world that God is real and we have been changed by the Gospel
- Christians should be different. When we fall apart at the slightest inconvenience or major calamity, inevitably those who are watching (and they are) judge your faith
- And you can say-that’s on them and it is- but if the bible says you should have it, display it, and walk in it, don’t you preach your gospel by the way you respond to this world?
- Scared about elections, economies, turmoil and prices? I saw so many people who claimed to be Christians fall apart during covid. They showed what they believed in.
- pursue peace because Peace Prepares Us for Eternal Rest
- Peace in this life is a foretaste of the eternal rest promised in heaven. It reminds us that God’s ultimate plan is to restore all things and bring us into His everlasting peace.
- RIP- rest in peace. He has entered into his much deserved and earned rest
- When you die, and you go to heaven, what a day of rejoicing it will be
- And you will rest. The things of this world will not consume you any longer.
- Rev 21:4: 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.
- when we walk in peace on this side of heaven, we experience the peace of God NOW before we get to heaven.
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