[0.00 --> 3.48]  Good morning.
[5.48 --> 12.40]  It's good to be with you this morning and have the opportunity to open God's Word.
[13.72 --> 21.02]  We're in this Advent season, as you've gathered, and our topic is words of waiting.
[22.88 --> 29.62]  And I was just thinking a lot about the word peace, but we have these big words, hope, love, joy, peace.
[30.66 --> 41.74]  And when the words are big, they get used a lot, but then they feel like they're not as deeply understood as they should be.
[42.60 --> 46.52]  And I think that's the impetus of the service, is to say, this is a big word.
[47.00 --> 50.18]  This is a word that we need to grapple with.
[51.32 --> 53.32]  You know, it's just so easy to say, oh, peace, right?
[53.44 --> 55.46]  But what do we mean? What are we talking about?
[55.54 --> 58.98]  So we're going to wrestle with that a little bit this morning here.
[58.98 --> 65.34]  You know, because I think when most of us look around, you know, we don't see a lot of peace.
[66.34 --> 68.72]  You know, we look at mental health problems abound.
[69.38 --> 74.30]  So many people talk about being anxious and struggle with their mental health.
[74.30 --> 79.46]  Even Christmas time is, in many ways, for many people, considered the time of anxiety and stress.
[79.74 --> 88.52]  And there's so much conflict between nations, between people, families, husbands, wives, friends, dogs versus cats.
[88.60 --> 89.58]  I mean, it's everywhere, right?
[89.58 --> 92.48]  Issues abound.
[93.32 --> 95.12]  And opinions abound.
[96.04 --> 100.76]  In this world, there are so many ways where we won't feel peaceful.
[101.94 --> 103.96]  And the question would be, then, why not?
[105.26 --> 109.32]  You know, what people might argue, we progress so much as humankind.
[109.32 --> 111.78]  And yet, you know, wars continue.
[112.18 --> 114.16]  Yeah, we establish some peace treaties.
[114.40 --> 118.34]  We have a ceasefire, but the ceasefire ceases to be.
[118.56 --> 120.28]  And the war carries on again.
[121.32 --> 123.44]  You figure by now we would have figured this stuff out.
[123.70 --> 124.70]  So what's going on here?
[125.28 --> 125.66]  Peace.
[125.78 --> 126.28]  What is it?
[127.06 --> 132.74]  It is defined, and you've heard it already this morning, kind of like an absence of conflict.
[134.06 --> 134.38]  Okay.
[134.70 --> 135.74]  An absence of conflict.
[135.74 --> 138.64]  Scripture kind of talks about that, too.
[139.06 --> 141.24]  But then Scripture adds this to it.
[141.62 --> 143.34]  This is peace that we're talking about.
[143.38 --> 149.28]  Not just the absence of conflict, but something better comes in place of the conflict.
[150.32 --> 153.60]  Something rich and deep and wonderful and powerful.
[155.20 --> 156.64]  I'm going to give you a lot of scriptures.
[156.90 --> 159.24]  I, you know, went and did a Google thing on peace.
[159.34 --> 164.98]  And I spent, you know, most of my time just reading these verses and pondering how I understood peace.
[164.98 --> 166.52]  I want to do the same with you.
[166.86 --> 168.54]  So we're going to jump to a lot of verses here.
[168.66 --> 169.64]  So get ready.
[170.44 --> 171.68]  Romans 15, 13.
[172.22 --> 177.08]  It says, may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace.
[178.04 --> 178.44]  How?
[178.98 --> 180.68]  As you trust in him.
[181.36 --> 184.36]  So that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
[184.58 --> 186.46]  But you see there's a peace thing here.
[186.66 --> 187.84]  What's it connected to?
[188.26 --> 189.22]  Trusting in God.
[189.72 --> 192.62]  When we trust in God, somehow that connects us to peace.
[192.62 --> 194.74]  So Paul kind of leads us toward that.
[195.34 --> 199.24]  Peace here then is much more than just the absence of conflict.
[199.48 --> 200.82]  It involves trusting God.
[201.56 --> 205.24]  In the Old Testament, there's a lot of talk about shalom and all throughout scripture.
[205.40 --> 206.82]  That's the Hebrew word for peace.
[207.08 --> 209.32]  But it's not, it doesn't do it justice.
[209.74 --> 214.20]  What we talk about when we say peace or shalom, we talk about completeness.
[214.36 --> 215.88]  We talk about wholeness.
[216.16 --> 218.24]  We talk about there being no gaps in it.
[218.24 --> 221.82]  You know, you picture, they had on the video a picture of a wall.
[222.18 --> 223.94]  And there's no gaps in that wall.
[224.24 --> 226.96]  Something complicated is put together.
[227.40 --> 229.06]  And then wholeness happens.
[230.66 --> 232.30]  There's integrity in it.
[232.98 --> 234.50]  Well-being happens.
[235.16 --> 240.16]  And when things aren't put back together well, things break down again and again and again.
[240.26 --> 242.16]  And we see that in our world all the time.
[242.16 --> 246.86]  And that's why we keep having wars again and we keep having conflict again and so forth and so on.
[248.54 --> 252.62]  And deep down inside, we all feel the need for restoration.
[253.24 --> 255.38]  But permanent restoration.
[255.96 --> 257.52]  Forever restoration.
[259.12 --> 265.50]  For now, we move toward wholeness in a broken world.
[266.54 --> 267.98]  Yeah, we want the fighting to stop.
[268.06 --> 269.20]  We want people to work together.
[269.20 --> 273.74]  Yet the Bible is full of people not living out of shalom.
[273.88 --> 275.60]  And you see the consequences of it.
[276.18 --> 279.54]  Right from the start, already in the garden, sin lurks.
[279.68 --> 284.02]  Satan lurks to bring about brokenness and all of what was good.
[284.96 --> 286.12]  Including Adam and Eve.
[287.44 --> 291.26]  In fact, we have a picture right at the beginning where the world was chaos.
[291.94 --> 294.70]  And then out of the chaos, God creates.
[296.22 --> 298.16]  Jumping way ahead to Isaiah.
[298.16 --> 299.80]  Isaiah looks forward then.
[299.80 --> 302.16]  And he kind of reflects the heart of the people in a way.
[302.66 --> 304.50]  Looks forward to a leader who comes.
[304.98 --> 306.80]  And he'll be a prince of shalom.
[307.64 --> 311.24]  And his reign would bring endless shalom.
[311.56 --> 312.78]  The deep desire that we have.
[313.02 --> 314.10]  And so they waited.
[314.28 --> 314.92]  We wait.
[315.80 --> 317.70]  And Jesus came, the prince of peace.
[318.86 --> 322.56]  In scripture, we read Jesus, when he neared the time of the cross.
[322.86 --> 324.86]  He said this in John 14, 27.
[324.86 --> 327.06]  Peace, I leave you.
[327.42 --> 329.14]  But keep in mind what kind of peace.
[329.26 --> 330.10]  Shalom, I leave you.
[330.42 --> 331.82]  My peace I give you.
[332.14 --> 333.64]  I don't give as the world gives.
[333.68 --> 335.10]  We're not doing that definition.
[335.92 --> 337.66]  Do not let your hearts be troubled.
[338.08 --> 338.82]  Do not be afraid.
[338.92 --> 340.76]  Because I've come to bring that kind of peace.
[341.90 --> 344.76]  Through Jesus' life and his death and his resurrection.
[344.76 --> 349.14]  Brokenness is replaced by wholeness.
[353.94 --> 355.78]  Ephesians 2, Paul says it this way.
[356.56 --> 358.30]  And it's very powerful the way this starts.
[358.64 --> 361.70]  For he, Jesus himself, is our peace.
[362.70 --> 364.56]  He is our peace.
[365.06 --> 369.24]  Who has made, and then Paul refers to some conflicts that exist in his time.
[369.48 --> 370.78]  As they have in all times.
[371.10 --> 372.80]  Who has made the two groups one.
[372.80 --> 375.28]  Who has destroyed the barrier.
[375.42 --> 376.84]  The dividing wall of hostility.
[377.00 --> 378.20]  Whatever that is.
[378.84 --> 380.58]  The dividing wall of hostility in your life.
[380.70 --> 382.16]  In the world itself.
[382.60 --> 385.02]  By setting aside in his flesh.
[385.86 --> 388.26]  The law with its commands and regulations.
[388.74 --> 389.54]  His purpose.
[389.70 --> 390.20]  His mission.
[390.54 --> 392.52]  Was to create in himself.
[392.64 --> 393.76]  You see this is all in Jesus.
[394.06 --> 394.60]  In himself.
[395.00 --> 397.34]  One new humanity out of the two.
[397.68 --> 398.54]  Whether there were two.
[398.70 --> 399.76]  There will be one.
[399.76 --> 400.20]  One.
[400.20 --> 400.46]  Forever.
[401.80 --> 403.36]  Thus making peace.
[404.96 --> 407.12]  And it's not just the absence of war.
[407.46 --> 409.10]  And it's not just the absence of conflict.
[410.12 --> 412.84]  And Jesus is peace.
[414.54 --> 417.14]  And his followers are called to help bring that peace.
[417.92 --> 419.28]  That shalom to the world.
[419.28 --> 420.66]  And yes.
[420.76 --> 422.98]  We live in the now and not yet.
[424.00 --> 424.20]  Right?
[424.56 --> 425.96]  Jesus' kingdom has come.
[426.20 --> 427.32]  And is coming.
[427.64 --> 430.36]  Somehow we live in this transitional kind of moment here.
[431.44 --> 434.56]  And we work toward that peace.
[435.68 --> 438.26]  I kind of always like it in 1 Corinthians 13.
[438.34 --> 439.30]  Paul is talking about love.
[439.64 --> 440.58]  But at one moment he said.
[440.66 --> 440.78]  You know.
[440.84 --> 442.24]  We see through a mirror dimly.
[442.50 --> 444.28]  Sort of translucent like glass.
[444.28 --> 446.28]  We don't see it clearly.
[446.54 --> 447.78]  Even if we think we do.
[450.78 --> 453.32]  And we move through the complexities of it all.
[453.70 --> 457.28]  To try and bring the homeless as God intended it to be.
[458.64 --> 459.50]  Let me ask you.
[459.54 --> 462.48]  Have you noticed complexities in your life?
[464.10 --> 464.70]  A few?
[466.54 --> 467.28]  Issues are complicated.
[468.06 --> 468.92]  They really are.
[469.08 --> 470.66]  People are complex.
[470.66 --> 473.56]  And sin makes it even more complicated.
[474.30 --> 475.80]  None of it is simple.
[476.08 --> 477.40]  Whatever we're talking about here.
[477.88 --> 479.16]  And you can say things like.
[479.38 --> 482.30]  Well if only they would have just listened to me.
[483.32 --> 484.46]  Because I know.
[486.12 --> 486.36]  Right?
[486.50 --> 486.72]  I don't know.
[487.08 --> 487.56]  Sometimes.
[489.22 --> 491.74]  If only both sides would just simply lay down their weapons.
[491.86 --> 491.98]  Yeah.
[492.08 --> 493.58]  But they pick them up again.
[494.90 --> 495.70]  If only.
[495.82 --> 496.72]  And we have all the if only.
[496.84 --> 497.80]  Then we'd have peace.
[497.88 --> 498.06]  Right?
[498.06 --> 500.08]  We see this in the world.
[500.18 --> 501.30]  Trying to figure it out too.
[502.38 --> 503.26]  Biblical peace.
[503.52 --> 506.50]  Reaches way beyond how our culture defines it.
[506.74 --> 508.60]  Or how we often define it too I think.
[508.80 --> 509.68]  And how we live it out.
[510.00 --> 510.22]  You know.
[510.34 --> 512.48]  Let's all just get along.
[513.40 --> 514.98]  But we never ask the hard question.
[515.28 --> 516.80]  Why don't we get along?
[519.30 --> 520.98]  Why am I always picking a fight here?
[522.48 --> 524.66]  Why am I always getting into arguments?
[524.66 --> 524.90]  Gee.
[524.98 --> 525.92]  Maybe there's something with you.
[525.92 --> 528.02]  Or with the world.
[528.16 --> 528.56]  And issues.
[528.68 --> 529.28]  And complexities.
[529.68 --> 529.88]  It's.
[530.18 --> 530.50]  You know.
[530.58 --> 531.82]  Why is it happening?
[533.38 --> 533.58]  And.
[534.10 --> 534.24]  You know.
[534.58 --> 535.58]  Another big word.
[535.76 --> 536.14]  You know.
[536.18 --> 537.10]  We have sin.
[538.80 --> 539.24]  Brokenness.
[539.54 --> 540.92]  We sang about that.
[541.00 --> 541.12]  Right?
[541.72 --> 542.74]  Brokenness happens.
[545.60 --> 547.00]  What do I do with that?
[548.68 --> 551.32]  How is that keeping me from peace inside of myself.
[551.44 --> 553.48]  And in my relationship with others as well.
[553.48 --> 554.74]  And.
[554.74 --> 555.46]  And somehow.
[556.02 --> 556.40]  And.
[556.40 --> 556.42]  And.
[556.42 --> 558.08]  When we read in Philippians 4.
[558.68 --> 559.58]  Where Paul says.
[560.12 --> 561.60]  Don't be anxious about anything.
[561.74 --> 562.86]  But in every situation.
[563.06 --> 563.84]  Every situation.
[564.30 --> 565.76]  By prayer and petition.
[566.14 --> 567.08]  With thanksgiving.
[567.20 --> 568.22]  Present your request to God.
[568.28 --> 568.42]  Okay.
[568.46 --> 569.42]  So stuff's happening.
[569.68 --> 570.34]  Pour it out to God.
[570.54 --> 571.38]  And what happens.
[571.64 --> 573.04]  And the peace of God.
[574.04 --> 575.84]  Which transcends all understanding.
[575.92 --> 577.30]  So bigger than your brain.
[577.68 --> 579.76]  Will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
[580.16 --> 580.60]  Peace.
[580.60 --> 582.90]  That is beyond human comprehension.
[583.34 --> 584.42]  Bigger than you are.
[584.68 --> 585.62]  Somehow happens.
[585.78 --> 587.84]  When we surrender ourselves to Christ.
[592.44 --> 593.00]  Somehow.
[593.62 --> 595.10]  If I really want peace.
[595.14 --> 596.04]  And I understand it.
[596.04 --> 596.96]  And I know it's.
[597.38 --> 599.08]  That Jesus is peace.
[599.24 --> 600.70]  I have to humble myself.
[601.04 --> 601.60]  And realize.
[601.76 --> 603.98]  I'm messing up that definition quite regularly.
[604.28 --> 605.90]  I'm just looking for a peace.
[605.98 --> 608.06]  That makes my life easier.
[608.06 --> 612.88]  If only my wife would just listen to me.
[614.30 --> 614.78]  Right.
[614.90 --> 615.04]  You know.
[615.04 --> 616.28]  I just want simplicity.
[616.76 --> 618.08]  I want things my way.
[618.34 --> 619.82]  I'm in the way of peace somehow.
[621.58 --> 622.76]  And it starts.
[623.10 --> 624.42]  With surrender.
[624.88 --> 626.10]  To the prince of peace.
[626.32 --> 627.34]  Whose birth we celebrate.
[630.84 --> 631.28]  So.
[631.98 --> 633.26]  Let's look at Isaiah 9.
[633.36 --> 634.04]  Where we get this.
[634.50 --> 634.94]  Phrase.
[635.52 --> 636.40]  Prince of peace.
[636.40 --> 638.72]  Notice how it starts.
[639.86 --> 641.56]  The people walking in great dark.
[641.70 --> 642.26]  In darkness.
[642.44 --> 643.44]  Have seen a great light.
[643.94 --> 644.16]  All right.
[644.22 --> 644.78]  So here we go.
[645.32 --> 646.48]  They're walking in darkness.
[646.62 --> 647.18]  And brokenness.
[647.24 --> 647.54]  And sin.
[648.38 --> 650.36]  And on those living in the land of deep darkness.
[650.52 --> 651.70]  A light has dawned.
[652.40 --> 654.68]  You have enlarged the nations of God.
[654.90 --> 656.02]  And increased their joy.
[656.32 --> 657.52]  They rejoice before you.
[657.54 --> 658.86]  As people rejoice at a harvest.
[658.98 --> 661.22]  As warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.
[661.22 --> 664.02]  For as in the days of Midian's defeat.
[664.14 --> 664.92]  Battles they fought.
[665.32 --> 667.50]  You have shattered the yoke that burdens them.
[667.70 --> 668.84]  The bar across the shoulder.
[669.26 --> 670.22]  The rod of oppression.
[670.44 --> 671.04]  There's righteousness.
[671.68 --> 673.70]  Every warrior's boot used in battle.
[673.78 --> 675.16]  And every garment rolled in blood.
[675.40 --> 676.60]  Will be destined for burning.
[676.72 --> 678.86]  Because we're going to burn all the stuff used in war.
[679.22 --> 680.78]  Will be the fuel for the fire.
[681.04 --> 681.42]  Why?
[681.78 --> 682.10]  Why?
[682.92 --> 683.64]  Here we go.
[683.64 --> 686.98]  For to us a child is born.
[688.24 --> 690.26]  To us a son is given.
[690.78 --> 692.52]  And the government will be on his shoulders.
[692.70 --> 694.40]  And he will be called wonderful counselor.
[694.54 --> 695.12]  Mighty God.
[695.44 --> 696.34]  Everlasting Father.
[696.74 --> 697.88]  Prince of peace.
[698.42 --> 699.82]  And of the greatness of his government.
[699.98 --> 700.48]  And of peace.
[700.78 --> 701.60]  There will be no end.
[702.90 --> 704.28]  He will reign on David's throne.
[704.40 --> 705.14]  And over his kingdom.
[705.24 --> 706.26]  That whole biblical story.
[706.72 --> 706.86]  Right?
[707.22 --> 708.56]  Establishing and upholding it.
[708.72 --> 709.22]  With what?
[709.30 --> 710.68]  With justice and righteousness.
[710.68 --> 712.48]  From that time and forever.
[712.48 --> 713.74]  And how's it going to happen?
[714.06 --> 717.06]  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
[718.54 --> 720.28]  God has to do it.
[721.06 --> 722.86]  And we surrender to his will.
[723.60 --> 726.78]  In this quest for shalom.
[729.12 --> 730.58]  In the middle of darkness.
[731.18 --> 733.02]  That promise was made.
[733.32 --> 735.28]  With war and injustice happening.
[735.76 --> 736.90]  And that promise comes.
[737.18 --> 738.40]  Peace will come.
[738.40 --> 740.00]  And you and I.
[740.00 --> 743.06]  We sit in the middle of our own brokenness.
[743.18 --> 743.86]  Our own pain.
[743.98 --> 744.56]  Our own hurts.
[744.94 --> 747.26]  And we see and we feel the injustices.
[747.58 --> 749.32]  And we feel the weight of it all.
[749.64 --> 751.34]  And we see it in our relationships.
[752.30 --> 754.86]  And then this promise of deliverance comes.
[755.24 --> 759.30]  A promise to those who are looking for the way.
[759.82 --> 761.22]  And are looking for wholeness.
[761.36 --> 762.26]  And it's found in Jesus.
[762.52 --> 763.80]  Because he's the prince of peace.
[763.80 --> 767.14]  And he walks with us.
[767.52 --> 769.74]  When things aren't as they should be.
[770.68 --> 771.96]  In this time of promise.
[772.14 --> 773.72]  When Isaiah wrote this passage.
[775.02 --> 776.68]  Israel was headed into exile.
[777.42 --> 778.74]  They were a conquered nation.
[779.14 --> 780.90]  They'd lost it all humanly speaking.
[781.92 --> 783.60]  There would seem to be no peace for them.
[784.96 --> 785.94]  And like Israel.
[786.14 --> 787.66]  We look for someone to come.
[787.72 --> 789.40]  And make things whole and right again.
[789.66 --> 790.72]  But this time forever.
[790.72 --> 793.64]  And that's what we're going to celebrate at Christmas again.
[794.66 --> 796.76]  Someone who actually has the power.
[797.16 --> 797.84]  And the knowledge.
[798.14 --> 798.74]  And the grace.
[799.04 --> 799.68]  And the love.
[799.94 --> 800.98]  That wonderful counselor.
[801.10 --> 801.74]  That mighty God.
[801.80 --> 802.58]  That everlasting father.
[802.92 --> 806.16]  And this promise says that someone will come.
[806.72 --> 810.04]  And I loved how Jonathan's team sang in the beginning there.
[810.14 --> 811.08]  We were saying how long.
[811.14 --> 811.60]  How long.
[811.88 --> 812.22]  Come.
[812.34 --> 812.90]  Come Lord Jesus.
[812.98 --> 813.34]  Come Lord Jesus.
[813.38 --> 813.80]  And then all of a sudden.
[813.86 --> 814.46]  Joy to the world.
[814.54 --> 815.90]  The Lord has come.
[815.90 --> 816.04]  Come.
[816.04 --> 816.10]  Come.
[819.20 --> 820.80]  They didn't just show up.
[821.18 --> 822.48]  He came into it all.
[824.14 --> 824.98]  And they waited.
[825.10 --> 825.68]  And we wait.
[826.96 --> 828.94]  And this is a promise they cling to.
[829.12 --> 830.12]  And we cling to it.
[830.28 --> 832.34]  Even when we feel like we're in exile too.
[832.66 --> 833.76]  And this Messiah comes.
[833.92 --> 835.50]  And he lives with us.
[835.54 --> 836.28]  To be with us.
[837.26 --> 839.88]  I love how in the version of the message.
[840.02 --> 840.68]  We have it on here.
[841.06 --> 842.16]  John 1.14.
[842.50 --> 843.10]  The word.
[843.20 --> 843.78]  That's Jesus.
[843.78 --> 846.00]  The word became flesh and blood.
[846.10 --> 846.96]  God became one of us.
[847.28 --> 847.72]  And what?
[848.14 --> 849.42]  Moved into the neighborhood.
[849.56 --> 850.06]  I love that.
[851.34 --> 853.54]  We saw the glory with our own eyes.
[853.62 --> 854.44]  The one of kind glory.
[854.60 --> 855.32]  Like father.
[855.58 --> 856.48]  Like son.
[857.48 --> 858.94]  The prince of peace.
[859.74 --> 861.90]  Moved into your neighborhood.
[864.50 --> 865.94]  Right where you are.
[868.06 --> 872.08]  And he would do what he said he would do.
[872.08 --> 873.32]  And what throughout history.
[873.52 --> 875.26]  We as humans couldn't do.
[875.60 --> 878.08]  We couldn't make peace happen.
[882.68 --> 884.82]  Here's an example of Jesus coming.
[885.18 --> 885.94]  Into the neighborhood.
[886.50 --> 888.38]  This time the neighborhood of a bunch of shepherds.
[888.90 --> 891.14]  Let's read Luke 2 a little bit of the Christmas story.
[892.54 --> 892.90]  There were.
[893.12 --> 894.14]  And these shepherds.
[894.30 --> 894.44]  Right.
[894.54 --> 897.52]  They're low down on the totem pole.
[897.52 --> 900.04]  They're an oppressed people.
[900.14 --> 901.68]  The Romans have taken over.
[902.12 --> 903.74]  They're not even well loved among their own people.
[904.48 --> 905.00]  And here we go.
[905.26 --> 907.20]  There were shepherds camping in the neighborhood.
[908.34 --> 910.20]  They had set night watches over the sheep.
[910.66 --> 912.22]  Suddenly God's angel stood among them.
[912.34 --> 914.42]  The glory of God's glory blazed around them.
[914.88 --> 915.60]  They were terrified.
[915.88 --> 917.10]  And the angel said don't be afraid.
[917.66 --> 919.88]  I'm here to announce a great and joyful event.
[920.08 --> 922.30]  That is meant for everybody worldwide.
[922.30 --> 925.58]  A savior has just been born in David's town.
[925.90 --> 928.04]  A savior who is the Messiah and master.
[928.76 --> 930.52]  This is what you're to look for.
[930.82 --> 933.56]  A baby wrapped in a blanket lying in a manger.
[934.56 --> 937.02]  And at once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir.
[937.14 --> 938.22]  Singing God's praises.
[938.72 --> 940.46]  Glory to God in the heavenly heights.
[940.80 --> 941.28]  And here we go.
[941.80 --> 943.52]  Peace to all men and women on earth.
[943.64 --> 944.68]  Who please him.
[945.36 --> 946.60]  On whom his favor rests.
[947.44 --> 949.34]  As the angel choir withdrew into heaven.
[949.46 --> 950.50]  The shepherds talked it over.
[950.62 --> 951.58]  Let's go to Bethlehem.
[951.58 --> 952.72]  As fast as we can.
[952.78 --> 953.66]  And let's see for ourselves.
[954.12 --> 955.58]  What God has revealed to us.
[956.60 --> 958.76]  And there's these poor shepherds.
[959.86 --> 961.24]  Hearing this angel choir.
[961.34 --> 961.98]  They're blown away.
[962.44 --> 963.42]  And that peace on earth.
[963.60 --> 965.24]  On whom his favor rests.
[966.36 --> 967.38]  And they must have thought.
[967.98 --> 968.38]  Us?
[968.88 --> 969.18]  Me?
[971.32 --> 973.10]  His favor rests on me?
[974.22 --> 975.62]  I'm nobody's favorite.
[978.24 --> 980.46]  The promise is then fulfilled through this baby.
[980.46 --> 981.46]  And with his coming.
[981.46 --> 983.46]  We have peace with God.
[983.46 --> 985.24]  And with one another through Jesus.
[985.48 --> 987.02]  And all the broken pieces.
[987.48 --> 988.88]  Are made whole.
[989.20 --> 990.72]  Through the coming of this child.
[991.04 --> 992.40]  He brings a pathway.
[992.78 --> 993.46]  Toward restoration.
[994.82 --> 995.70]  And eternal hope.
[995.70 --> 1000.20]  I read this great quote here.
[1000.60 --> 1002.68]  Peace is more than absence of something.
[1003.04 --> 1004.66]  It is the presence of someone.
[1006.88 --> 1007.78]  Think about that.
[1007.88 --> 1009.98]  Peace is more than the absence of something.
[1010.10 --> 1011.34]  Which is where we tend to limit it.
[1011.72 --> 1012.98]  It is the presence of someone.
[1013.30 --> 1015.00]  Who comes to where you are.
[1015.10 --> 1016.46]  With all that's going on.
[1016.60 --> 1017.32]  All the pain.
[1017.40 --> 1018.00]  All the struggles.
[1018.36 --> 1018.60]  And said.
[1018.68 --> 1019.44]  I am the way.
[1019.52 --> 1020.06]  I am the truth.
[1020.12 --> 1020.54]  I am the life.
[1020.54 --> 1022.12]  No one comes to the Father except for me.
[1022.38 --> 1024.46]  And my favor rests on you.
[1026.62 --> 1027.92]  And then like the shepherds.
[1028.02 --> 1028.48]  We might say.
[1028.90 --> 1030.04]  That includes me.
[1031.12 --> 1031.94]  My life.
[1033.22 --> 1034.36]  His favor rests on me.
[1037.14 --> 1037.54]  How?
[1039.44 --> 1040.34]  John 14.
[1040.64 --> 1041.40]  Jesus said this.
[1042.22 --> 1043.54]  All this I have spoken to you.
[1044.66 --> 1045.86]  While still with you.
[1045.94 --> 1046.52]  But the advocate.
[1046.64 --> 1047.22]  The Holy Spirit.
[1047.28 --> 1048.64]  Whom the Father will send in my name.
[1048.70 --> 1049.78]  Will teach you all things.
[1049.78 --> 1050.86]  I am going to remind you.
[1050.86 --> 1051.84]  Of everything I have said to you.
[1052.56 --> 1054.00]  Peace I leave with you.
[1054.10 --> 1055.20]  My peace I give.
[1055.50 --> 1056.92]  I do not give as the world gives.
[1057.44 --> 1058.08]  Do not fear.
[1058.90 --> 1060.06]  Or do not let your hearts be troubled.
[1060.16 --> 1060.96]  Do not be afraid.
[1061.72 --> 1063.30]  Jesus says to his followers.
[1063.94 --> 1065.62]  I am leaving my peace with you.
[1066.00 --> 1067.64]  With the power of the Holy Spirit.
[1068.72 --> 1069.84]  You are not on your own.
[1071.42 --> 1073.16]  My forever peace I leave with you.
[1073.70 --> 1075.42]  And this is the peace that stays with us.
[1075.62 --> 1077.80]  This is the catalyst against the fear.
[1077.80 --> 1079.04]  And against the darkness.
[1079.04 --> 1081.08]  Peace bigger than troubles and fear.
[1081.40 --> 1082.66]  Bigger than sin and death.
[1083.90 --> 1085.86]  And it's interesting to me that Jesus uses a command.
[1086.12 --> 1088.02]  He commands his disciples on us.
[1088.46 --> 1090.18]  Do not be afraid.
[1092.84 --> 1094.44]  It doesn't sound optional.
[1095.92 --> 1096.56]  And we might say.
[1096.64 --> 1096.84]  Well yeah.
[1096.94 --> 1099.86]  But have you seen what's going on in the world?
[1100.98 --> 1101.88]  Don't be afraid.
[1102.72 --> 1102.92]  Yeah.
[1102.96 --> 1104.80]  But have you seen the mess I am?
[1105.52 --> 1106.44]  Don't be afraid.
[1106.44 --> 1110.60]  Have you seen all the negative powers that work around me and in the world?
[1110.80 --> 1111.52]  Don't be afraid.
[1112.60 --> 1115.86]  My peace I leave with you through the spirit in you.
[1117.28 --> 1118.64]  And he says it again in John 16.
[1118.76 --> 1122.14]  I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.
[1122.22 --> 1123.56]  In me you may have peace.
[1123.76 --> 1125.50]  In this world you will have trouble.
[1125.72 --> 1125.90]  Right?
[1126.14 --> 1127.06]  We are not there yet.
[1127.26 --> 1127.80]  But take heart.
[1127.86 --> 1128.82]  I have overcome the world.
[1128.82 --> 1133.56]  And we see this throughout scripture.
[1134.18 --> 1135.38]  A God who is on the move.
[1136.02 --> 1138.46]  Moving through the chaos as I said in John.
[1138.72 --> 1139.48]  Toward wholeness.
[1139.60 --> 1140.26]  Toward shalom.
[1142.12 --> 1143.84]  He's doing that in your life.
[1145.08 --> 1146.18]  Trust that.
[1147.46 --> 1150.74]  That same God who was born a man comes to us.
[1150.84 --> 1151.26]  To you.
[1151.26 --> 1153.10]  He comes to you in your chaos.
[1153.16 --> 1153.78]  And he creates.
[1154.06 --> 1154.76]  He brings peace.
[1155.08 --> 1155.72]  He restores.
[1156.06 --> 1156.64]  He delivers.
[1156.64 --> 1156.84]  He delivers.
[1159.16 --> 1162.80]  And the conflicts don't necessarily just simply go away.
[1163.42 --> 1164.64]  But they are overcome.
[1165.28 --> 1167.34]  They are places of transformation.
[1168.00 --> 1169.78]  And they're replaced with forever shalom.
[1171.46 --> 1171.92]  So yes.
[1172.52 --> 1173.30]  You're going through a lot.
[1173.98 --> 1175.72]  In this world there will be trouble.
[1176.82 --> 1180.10]  This might be the first Christmas without a loved one.
[1182.44 --> 1182.64]  You know.
[1182.64 --> 1184.66]  I was talking to somebody this morning.
[1184.66 --> 1188.40]  About mom who passed away at 94.
[1188.70 --> 1191.24]  But the Banner Swags and the Ben Randons.
[1191.36 --> 1192.66]  Mom just passed away as well.
[1192.86 --> 1193.26]  My mom.
[1193.68 --> 1195.08]  This is the first Christmas without her.
[1195.48 --> 1196.80]  In our lives too.
[1198.10 --> 1198.32]  Yeah.
[1198.34 --> 1199.66]  There will be trouble.
[1199.82 --> 1203.24]  But death is still taking its toll in that sense.
[1203.82 --> 1207.20]  And yet we have the great confidence of eternal life.
[1207.20 --> 1209.28]  And then there's people who say.
[1209.40 --> 1209.50]  Well yeah.
[1209.52 --> 1210.76]  But I feel alone.
[1210.82 --> 1211.38]  Or I am alone.
[1211.58 --> 1213.30]  Or they may be fighting illness.
[1213.94 --> 1215.42]  Or they're unemployed.
[1215.58 --> 1216.64]  And struggling financially.
[1216.78 --> 1218.44]  Or dealing with relational messes.
[1218.58 --> 1219.92]  Or mental health struggles.
[1220.32 --> 1223.42]  Peace can feel a long ways away.
[1226.62 --> 1227.70]  And so we wait.
[1228.46 --> 1229.64]  That's what Adam's about.
[1230.40 --> 1231.82]  But we wait with words.
[1231.88 --> 1232.34]  What words?
[1233.14 --> 1233.48]  Love.
[1233.74 --> 1233.98]  Hope.
[1234.20 --> 1234.44]  Joy.
[1234.62 --> 1234.94]  Peace.
[1234.94 --> 1235.06]  Peace.
[1236.26 --> 1236.74]  Jesus.
[1237.20 --> 1238.60]  Jesus comes right where you are.
[1239.32 --> 1240.34]  Peace is found in him.
[1241.24 --> 1242.18]  He is our peace.
[1243.02 --> 1246.52]  And we then can be peacemakers with him.
[1247.16 --> 1247.92]  And through him.
[1248.62 --> 1251.62]  Confronting our fears while we hold on to the promise of Jesus with us.
[1252.10 --> 1254.94]  The one who brings wholeness even in the chaos.
[1256.30 --> 1257.34]  And I guess I'm going to ask you.
[1257.60 --> 1259.26]  Or encourage you to start with this.
[1259.52 --> 1260.48]  Start with prayer.
[1260.48 --> 1262.02]  You might say.
[1262.08 --> 1263.18]  How can I be a peacemaker?
[1264.14 --> 1264.96]  Start with prayer.
[1266.06 --> 1269.80]  Pray for the places of conflict that you notice in your world.
[1270.60 --> 1272.64]  Pray for those who have hurt you.
[1273.92 --> 1275.16]  Pray against fear.
[1275.34 --> 1276.58]  Pray against despair.
[1277.12 --> 1279.54]  Read all the passages of peace you can find.
[1280.00 --> 1282.30]  It was such a good week for me that way.
[1282.80 --> 1285.76]  And pray for the spirit to empower you to be a peacemaker.
[1285.76 --> 1287.54]  Even when it's hard.
[1290.42 --> 1292.72]  And focus your eyes on Jesus.
[1293.34 --> 1294.90]  The one who has come for you.
[1295.52 --> 1296.56]  To bring you hope.
[1297.24 --> 1297.68]  And peace.
[1298.22 --> 1298.64]  And joy.
[1299.28 --> 1299.76]  And love.
[1301.06 --> 1302.28]  For he is our peace today.
[1303.24 --> 1304.50]  And he is our peace forever.
[1304.50 --> 1306.70]  Let's pray.
[1309.78 --> 1311.24]  Father God we come before you.
[1311.32 --> 1312.10]  And we thank you Lord.
[1312.22 --> 1314.88]  That you are the one who overcomes.
[1315.96 --> 1318.16]  You are the one who brings peace.
[1318.26 --> 1319.54]  And we get to join in.
[1320.36 --> 1323.72]  We get to contribute to the wholeness of shalom.
[1324.70 --> 1326.64]  Help us to do that in our families.
[1326.90 --> 1328.54]  In our lives.
[1328.60 --> 1329.44]  In our workplaces.
[1329.66 --> 1330.80]  In our community around us.
[1330.84 --> 1333.14]  Help us to be people who bring peace.
[1333.14 --> 1336.12]  But not just for the ceasing of conflict.
[1336.52 --> 1337.46]  But for something deeper.
[1337.62 --> 1337.94]  For you.
[1338.76 --> 1340.74]  For you are our peace.
[1341.82 --> 1343.02]  And may we cling to you.
[1343.06 --> 1343.92]  And hold on to you.
[1344.22 --> 1345.34]  Even when there's trouble.
[1345.46 --> 1346.38]  Even when life is hard.
[1346.48 --> 1347.34]  Even when it's chaotic.
[1347.82 --> 1349.24]  Knowing that you have overcome.
[1350.12 --> 1352.32]  And you have come to bring peace now.
[1352.88 --> 1353.58]  And forever.
[1353.94 --> 1354.60]  In Jesus name.
[1355.20 --> 1355.44]  Amen.