God with us Peace

Music group Hamms and Neufelds
Go tell it on the mountain
Dave Ens www.EasTview.org
3rd Advent welcome
PEACE. Christmas. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Hallmark says everyone at the manger is smiling and at peace.
What does peace look like? Not fighting?
Is peace God's idea? Is peace the same as peacefulness? Getting along?
God's notion of Peace is Shalom. Harmony everywhere between nature and people. Beautiful harmony. Doesn't always happen. Nails on chalkboard. Grin and bear it would be the peaceful thing to do. Shalom stops the disharmony and brings back beautiful harmony.
Luke 2.8-14 Isaiah 11 Ephesians 2

The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. For there is born to you today, in David's city, a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord.
Why did the shepherds get the message? The nobodies rather than the king.
Deep seated contentment. What if that is peace? They were ready to go. They found God was giving them his peace.
People that grasp for power trying to control people around them will have trouble finding peace. Harod found no peace.

Are we living like we are trying to take charge of everything? Can we leave the saving to the Messiah? He will save the people from their sIns. Jesus means God saves. Go be where Jesus is and God will take it from there. We do that here and in small groups. Spent time with God.

Righteousness will be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his waist.  The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat; The calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf together; and a little child will lead them.  The cow and the bear will graze. Their young ones will lie down together. The lion will eat straw like the ox.  The nursing child will play near a cobra's hole, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper's den.  They will not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
Our visions of Peace excludes people. I won't lie down here unless the wolf leaves.
The Romans violently removed all opposition. Then they had peace.
If God brings peace he brings it for everyone including my enemies.
I have to forgive to have peace.
Is there anything harder than forgiveness? We love to get even to get revenge. Has revenge ever brought peace? An eye for eye is the old testament rule. Not eye and ear for an eye.
God says forgive. Active reconciliation.

But now in Messiah Yeshua you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Messiah. For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in his flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace; and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility thereby. He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones, and of the household of God, being built on the foundation of the emissaries and prophets, Messiah Yeshua himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.

Jesus brought peace through sacrifice. Giving up my agenda. Becoming a peace maker not a peace lover. Becoming active in bringing peace.

What does peace look like for you?