Pastor continued the sermon series God Speaks. He repeated from last week: “God is speaking but are we listening?”
Sometimes God has to resort to other methods to get our attention. God may say “Do I have your attention now?”
God spoke through messengers to Zechariah and Elizabeth, then Mary and Jesus. He speaks in other ways and still speaks today.
How do we listen?
1. GET QUIET. Turn off the noise around us – physical and eternal noise.
2. GO TO THE WORD. Weigh what we think He is saying against His written word.
(God gives grace by saying – ‘you didn’t fully listen or follow, but I can work with that.’)
3. ASK FOR COUNSEL. Seek input from mature Christ follower who will be honest with you.
4. GO BACK TO GOD for confirmation.
Now we look at another, amazing part of the Christmas story. Luke Chapter 2 tells of the shepherds getting involved through amazing events.
The shepherds are startled by angels in the heavens with incredible news! If that isn’t enough then the angel is joined by a heavenly host of angels! They appear not to multitudes of people but to a handful of shepherds! Singing “Glory to God in the Highest and peace to those with whom God is pleased!”
Peace on Earth. The Savior has Come!! A huge change is coming to the earth.
Peace on Earth… Goodwill to men. What does it mean? Peace between God and man is what Jesus is bringing.
Micah 5:2- 6 sets out prophesy of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
Peace will come through the atonement by Jesus’ blood.
Jesus is the Peace. He is the Prince of Peace.
Peace is a condition of life, but it is conditional. We were designed to live in peace but then sin took that away by separation.
The prophet Isaiah says: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:1-4.
POINT: Peace is found when we trust in Jesus in, for and with everything.
When we come to know Jesus, we know that He knows who we are; He knows our past and He wipes the slate clean if we let Him.
Paul tells the readers how to have peace in Philippians 4:4-8.
‘Don’t worry, pray about everything, tell God and then you will experience PEACE As you live in Christ Jesus.’
We can have perfect peace ... in past, future and today! But only through belief, faith and trust in Christ Jesus.
This is the song I had picked as a possibility for today even before hearing the sermon.
[Here is a video that tells a history of the writing of this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvJdmMG6VWk
And here is a link to another video with lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1L7KAPgcO4 ]
Verses for Today:
Luke 2:8-14 NIV.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
For the past two Sundays we have had rain. I have been reading my devotions on YouVersion and then look at the rain and I burst into tears. I just have a sense of God weeping over our world. But I am comforted that I believe that God holds the world in His hands and He has all matters under control. I can trust in Him!
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