Christine Chrisrian: 12/04/16

Second Sunday of Advent-PEACE

Second Sunday of Advent: PEACE

On the second Sunday of Advent, we take time to reflect on God’s peace that He supplies to us unlimitedly. It is ultimately a gift from God “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.”Isaiah 45:7, “And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.” Leviticus 26:6, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27. The presence of peace indicates God's blessing on man's obedience “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.” Isaiah 32:17, “My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.”Malachi 2:5 n faith “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”Isaiah 26:3. There is no peace for the wicked “There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.” Isaiah 48:22.

In the Old Testament, the primary Hebrew word for “peace” is shalom, n it refers to relationships between people, nations, n God with men.

The time has come when antichrist will confirm a treaty, producing a temporary peace which he will then shortly shatter as he reveals his true colors “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”Daniel 9:27. False teachers proclaim peace when God is actually proclaiming judgment “Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter: 11 Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.12 Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it? 13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it.” Ezekiel 13:10-16. Our LORD Jesus came to put an end to sin n its penalty once n for all, His coming into the world has accomplished so much more than that! So God commands us to seek peace “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”Psalm 34:14, “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”Romans 14:19.

Jesus’ coming has given us peace with God that cannot be undone n God has purposed from the beginning to restore us to himself by his own plan n power. The prophecies of the Old Testament that are fulfilled in Christ’s coming give us confidence n peace.

In the New Testament, the primary Greek word for “peace” is eirene, n it refers to rest n tranquility. A key focus of peace in the New Testament is the Advent of Jesus Christ, as announced by the angels in “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”Luke 2:14 “Peace on earth . . .”. Isaiah had predicted the Messiah would be “The Prince of Peace” “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9:6-7, n He is called “The LORD of peace” in “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.”2 Thessalonians 3:16. It is through Christ’s work of justification that we can have peace with God “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” Romans 5:1 (PRAISE THE LORD), n that peace will keep our hearts n minds secure “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”Philippians 4:7.

N for those of us who are in Christ have an obligation to “let the peace of God rule” in their hearts “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”Colossians 3:15. This means we have the choice either to trust God’s promises letting His peace rule or to rely on ourselves n reject the peace He offers. Jesus gave His disciples peace based on the truth that He has overcome the world “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”John 14:27, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” 16:33. Peace is a fruit of the Spirit, so, if we are allowing the Spirit of God to rule in our lives, we will experience His peace. To be spiritually minded brings life n peace, according to “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:6. The world will continue to have wars n interpersonal conflicts until Jesus comes to establish true, lasting peace see “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots 2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears.4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek and his rest shall be glorious.”Isaiah 11:1-10, but God will give His peace to those who TRUST HIM. Once His peace rules in our hearts, we are able to share that peace with others; we become publishers of peace.

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus

Luke 1:46-56

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

54 He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

John 1:19-28

And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Isaiah 9:6-7

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Jeremiah 33:12-16

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.

13 In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth them, saith the LORD.

14 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.

15 In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.

16 In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.

Luke 1:26-38

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee blessed art thou among women.

29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary for thou hast found favour with God.

31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David

33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

2 Thessalonians 3:16

Rejoice in the Lord alway: n again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hn. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer n supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 N the peace of God, which passeth all understning, shall keep your hearts n minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-7

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy n peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Romans 15:13

Follow peace with all men, n holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Hebrews 12:14

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

1 Corinthians 14:33

For none of us liveth to himself, n no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; n whether we die, we die unto the Lord whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end Christ both died, n rose, n revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead n living. 10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stn before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, n every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. 14 I know, n am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of 17 For the kingdom of God is not meat n drink; but righteousness, n peace, n joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, n approved of men.

Romans 14:7-18

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We all sinned n deserve GOD’s judgment. But our loving FATHER, GOD sent HIS only begotten SON to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in HIM. JESUS, our LORD who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that HE died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buries n rose from the dead according to the Holy Bible. If you truly believe n trust in your heart, receiving JESUS alone as your SAVIOUR, declaring (by Baptism) JESUS is The LORD n SAVIOUR, you will be SAVED from the judgment n spend ETERNITY with GOD in HEAVEN…. In The name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.. Amen