Advent – Peace

It is the second week of Advent. We enjoy celebrating Advent and hope you do, too. Stay with us as we discuss the second week of Advent, Peace, on Cell Life Church Live.

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Watch the video of this message at https://www.celllifechurch.tv/advent-peace/

Message

Today we celebrate the second week of Advent and recognize that Jesus is our Peace.

Advent is celebrated around the world as Christians prepare for Christmas Day, which is the day we celebrate Christ’s birth. Each week we take a theme centered around Christ and explore how God changed the world one miraculous morning in Bethlehem.

You can see we have lit the peace candle and one for faith, which we spoke of last week.

The world has a lot to offer in an attempt to get people to a place of peace of mind. But it is only temporary. There is no security system, government, or medicine that can bring peace. Only having Christ in your life can you experience the inner peace that the world does not understand.

As we move closer to the celebration of the Christ child, we reflect on the peace that Jesus brought to our world.

His message was very controversial for its time and it still is today, but his first coming to earth has brought peace to the hearts of people. This little baby who was introduced to the world over 2000 years ago grew up to be the Savior of all mankind.

The prophet Isaiah spoke of the impact this Christ child would have on the world. Let’s read Isaiah 9:6-7.

(6) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (7) Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Jesus is our Prince of Peace. In him we find peace in the midst of chaos, turmoil, and grief.

In Jesus, we realize that we do not have to go through life alone. He goes before us, surrounds, us and guides us. The peace that Christ has brought to earth is not a time without war. His peace is reconciliation.

Let’s read Isaiah 2:1-5.

(1) This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: (2) In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. (3) Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (4) He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (5) Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.

It was prophesied that this child would change everything. He would rule the nations and bring peace.

Jesus is our peace. He does not bring guilt or condemnation. The Bible tells us that “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” This innocent little baby born in a manger was God himself coming to dwell among us so that we might be reconciled to himself.

Let’s read Matthew 2:1-11 together.

(1) After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem (2) and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (3) When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. (4) When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. (5) “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: (6) “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'” (7) Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. (8) He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” (9) After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. (10) When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. (11) On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Although many believed he was the son of God, they didn’t fully understand until his blood was shed on the cross that he was the long awaited Messiah.

Christmas is a time of celebration of who Jesus is and what he accomplished for us. He is our peace. Without him we would be nothing. With him, we are everything.

You can choose peace. You can choose contentment. You can choose Christ. His peace is free to all those who have accepted his salvation. May you rest in his peace this Christmas. May you choose peace over fear, peace over turmoil, and peace over chaos.