The Light Of Christmas Part 2: Peace On Earth

Light of Christmas Part 2: Peace on Earth

Isaiah 9:2-7

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people have rejoiced before you as they rejoice at harvest time and as they rejoice when dividing spoils. 4 For you have shattered their oppressive yoke and the rod on their shoulders, the staff of their oppressor, just as you did on the day of Midian. 5 For every trampling boot of battle and the bloodied garments of war will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this.

Opening Thought: The desire for peace becomes almost at Christmas.

Proverbs 17:1 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.

1. The primary cause of conflict in the world is rejection of the rule of God.

• The only hope for peace in the world is the acceptance of the rule of God.

 2.  Christmas is about God’s conquest of the world He made.

3 You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people have rejoiced……as they rejoice when dividing spoils. 4 For you have shattered their oppressive yoke….just as you did on the day of Midian. 5 For every trampling boot of battle and the bloodied garments of war will be burned as fuel for the fire. 7 The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. 

3. God’s way of bringing peace to the world is to conquer the hearts of people with the Good News of Christ.

John 10:15–16 …I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 But I have other sheep that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd…

Matthew 28:19-20 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

• Jesus reveals that lasting peace comes not through , but through .

Ephesians 2:14–17 For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, 15he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. 16 He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death. 17He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

How can we bring some eternal peace into our here and now?

• Accept the responsibility and blessing of being a peacemaker.

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

• Don’t buy into shallow notions of happiness and peace.

1 Timothy 6:6–9  But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. 8If we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.9But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction.

• Remember that what is best for the is best for .

Matthew 6:33–34 But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

• Remember that peace is a of the Spirit, not a in time.

Galatians 5:22–23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, , patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.