CHRISTMAS HOPE IS PEACE
One of the GREAT TESTS of living for Christ is MAINTAINING A POSITIVE OUTLOOK, a FAITHFUL SPIRIT, AND AN ATTITUDE OF HOPE AND PEACE. The reason for that is not because we lose our faith but because our hope and peace are attacked for several reasons.
We learn to hope, and peace is a part of the Church family. In the family, we learn the lessons of HOPE AND PEACE, HOW TO BELIEVE despite CIRCUMSTANCES.
Clare Booth, “There are no hopeless situations; only men have grown hopeless about them.”
Philippians 4:6-7
John 14:27
The message of Christmas is about the Son of God becoming the son of man so that the children of men could become children of God.
Romans 5:16-17: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
Hope and PEACE go together.
FAITH deals with the details of what you are believing God for.
PEACE is with the fact there is a Savior.
Faith deals with the truth that is found in God’s word.
PEACE deals with your attitude towards the promises in God’s word.
1. MY PEACE COMES FROM CHRIST NOT CIRCUMSTANCES.
-And there are times in everyday life that quit looks good.
-Maybe you have been beaten down in every place of life. As a family, we are here to pray and encourage each other.
2. IN EVERY TRIAL, CHRIST BRINGS AN OPPORTUNITY.
How can we ensure that this Christmas season will live up to our great expectations? Put our expectations in the Lord. Instead of catching up in the hectic days, focus on the HOLY-DAYS.
- Let’s understand that “holiday” began with “holy day.”
- Treat this season as holy. Seek to deepen your relationship with Christ; He will meet your every expectation.
3. THE MORE SEVERE THE CIRCUMSTANCE, THE GREATER THE MIRACLE JESUS CAN BRING.
Exodus 1:12
When you have an encounter with God that is supernatural, it will change you, and you can stay close to the people who are great examples. In your greatest trial, you can still find Christmas Hope.
4. YOUR HOPE IS INCREDIBLY VALUABLE TO YOUR LIFE.
A. WE BATTLE WHEN WE BELIEVE ONLY WHAT WE SEE. II Cor. 5:7
- We don’t see what God has already provided, the answers to our prayers that God has already set in motion.
- Already within your reach. We walk by SIGHT, NOT BY FAITH.
- If we don’t have Faith, we don’t have HOPE, and if you don’t have hope, then you don’t have PEACE.
- Despair always produces darkness and disillusionment in our spirits.
- Despair limits our ability to see the will, the plan, and the provision of God in our
B. WE BATTLE WHEN WE HAVE BECOME AFRAID TO HOPE.
- Everybody has met somebody who has said: “I want to believe that, but I’m afraid that I will get hurt.”
I want to believe, but what I have been through seems bigger than who God is, and I can’t believe that God is bigger than what I have been through.
5. ALL TRIALS ARE TEMPORARY.
Sing: “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine, heir of salvation, purchased divine, born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.”
Psalm 37:25
6. THE GREATEST GIFT IS THE HOPE OF CHRIST BEING BORN IN THAT MANGER.
John 3:16
The Baby in the manger became the Savior on the cross and the Lord of the empty tomb. He didn’t come to give us a holiday but to make us holy. He came to provide us with “everlasting life.” He doesn’t want us to “perish.”
The most excellent spiritual character is developed personally, privately, and
permanently in the presence of God.