Wednesday, December 21, 2011

The Road To Bethlehem Part 4 "Hope"


Illustrations:  As Alexander the Great was setting out on his conquest of Asia, he inquired into the finances of his followers. To ensure that they would not be troubled over the welfare of their dependents during their absence, he distributed crown estates and revenues among them. When he had thus disposed of nearly all the royal resources, his friend General Perdiccas asked Alexander what he had reserved for himself. "Hope," answered the king.
"In that case," said Perdiccas, "we who share in your labors will also take part in your hopes." He then refused the estate allotted to him, and several other of the king's friends did the same. 

Some time ago I saw a picture of an old burned-out mountain shack. All that remained was the chimney...the charred debris of what had been that family's sole possession. In front of this destroyed home stood an old grandfather-looking man dressed only in his underclothes with a small boy clutching a pair of patched overalls. It was evident that the child was crying. Beneath the picture were the words which the artist felt the old man was speaking to the boy. They were simple words, yet they presented a profound theology and philosophy of life. Those words were, "Hush child, God ain't dead!" 
That vivid picture of that burned-out mountain shack, that old man, the weeping child, and those words "God ain't dead" keep returning to my mind. Instead of it being a reminder of the despair of life, it has come to be a reminder of hope! I need reminders that there is hope in this world. In the midst of all of life's troubles and failures, I need mental pictures to remind me that all is not lost as long as God is alive and in control of His world. 

Intro:  (This happened recently to a church in St. Louis on Holly Hills Boulevard) The baby Jesus, stolen from the Nativity scene.  Sad, but not personally affecting me, you see, they can take that Jesus, because He is plastic, but they can’t take the one in my heart!  He is real.  The plastic one only reminds me that Jesus came as a baby in a manger to walk this life we are in.  It reminds us yearly that there is HOPE!

I.                   It reminds me that God is not done with us yet!
a.       Jesus speaking to Simon, tells him, thou art Simon, but thou shalt be peter! A Rock!
b.      He hasn’t experienced the change yet, but you SHALL BE!
c.       Noah’s day there was a flood…God said Enough!  to a bunch of people.  He didn’t have to send His Son to us, the fact that He did says He is not done with us yet.
II.                Change is possible
a.       Peter changed
b.      I changed
c.       Not the power of a new resolution, but a new revolution, Christ becomes the king in our heart
d.      To the sinner, He says Repent!  Change is possible
e.       That is what religion does, it condemns, but gives no hope to change.  Tells you what is wrong, but doesn’t tell you how to get right, or offers methods that can not work. 
                                                              i.      Working and self change can’t do it
                                                            ii.      Mat 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
1.      Labor…did He really mean physical labor?
a.       No!  Those that were laboring to find a way of acceptance before God.  Trying to earn righteousness and salvation and always coming short!
2.      Heavy laden…burdened by sins.
a.       Bro. Ron’s testimony…”I felt like a car was lifted off of my shoulders!”
III.             Door of Hope in the Valley of Achor
a.       Achor means trouble
b.      This was the valley they first  came to when they were coming out of the promised land
c.       It was a fruitful place that spoke of many possibilities to the children of Israel
d.      But Achan, ruined it with his sin
e.       When He refused to repent, (he had plenty of opportunities while the tribes, then the households, then the families, then the individual was being chosen!)  judgment came, Achan was put to death and then the Children of Israel went on to victory!
f.       Many times it is our trouble, our brick wall that brings us to the place where we can experience a change.  A door of hope in the midst of our trouble.  We begin to look to God when we are in a trouble that no one else can get us out of.
IV.             Woman at Simon’s House (Read G. L. Crain’s sermon on “Jesus Knows” (included) for further insights on this point)
a.       People couldn’t understand her worship
b.      In another place they said “Why this waste?” Mary called it worship, but Judas called it waste!
c.       Because He didn’t really know what it was like to have been forgiven.


Conclusion: When a priest says your sins are forgiven, that means nothing, but when Jesus says your sins are forgiven, that means everything!


G. L. Crain's Sermon:


Illustrations:  As Alexander the Great was setting out on his conquest of Asia, he inquired into the finances of his followers. To ensure that they would not be troubled over the welfare of their dependents during their absence, he distributed crown estates and revenues among them. When he had thus disposed of nearly all the royal resources, his friend General Perdiccas asked Alexander what he had reserved for himself. "Hope," answered the king.
"In that case," said Perdiccas, "we who share in your labors will also take part in your hopes." He then refused the estate allotted to him, and several other of the king's friends did the same. 

Some time ago I saw a picture of an old burned-out mountain shack. All that remained was the chimney...the charred debris of what had been that family's sole possession. In front of this destroyed home stood an old grandfather-looking man dressed only in his underclothes with a small boy clutching a pair of patched overalls. It was evident that the child was crying. Beneath the picture were the words which the artist felt the old man was speaking to the boy. They were simple words, yet they presented a profound theology and philosophy of life. Those words were, "Hush child, God ain't dead!" 
That vivid picture of that burned-out mountain shack, that old man, the weeping child, and those words "God ain't dead" keep returning to my mind. Instead of it being a reminder of the despair of life, it has come to be a reminder of hope! I need reminders that there is hope in this world. In the midst of all of life's troubles and failures, I need mental pictures to remind me that all is not lost as long as God is alive and in control of His world. 

Intro:  (This happened recently to a church in St. Louis on Holly Hills Boulevard) The baby Jesus, stolen from the Nativity scene.  Sad, but not personally affecting me, you see, they can take that Jesus, because He is plastic, but they can’t take the one in my heart!  He is real.  The plastic one only reminds me that Jesus came as a baby in a manger to walk this life we are in.  It reminds us yearly that there is HOPE!

I.                   It reminds me that God is not done with us yet!
a.       Jesus speaking to Simon, tells him, thou art Simon, but thou shalt be peter! A Rock!
b.      He hasn’t experienced the change yet, but you SHALL BE!
c.       Noah’s day there was a flood…God said Enough!  to a bunch of people.  He didn’t have to send His Son to us, the fact that He did says He is not done with us yet.
II.                Change is possible
a.       Peter changed
b.      I changed
c.       Not the power of a new resolution, but a new revolution, Christ becomes the king in our heart
d.      To the sinner, He says Repent!  Change is possible
e.       That is what religion does, it condemns, but gives no hope to change.  Tells you what is wrong, but doesn’t tell you how to get right, or offers methods that can not work. 
                                                              i.      Working and self change can’t do it
                                                            ii.      Mat 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
1.      Labor…did He really mean physical labor?
a.       No!  Those that were laboring to find a way of acceptance before God.  Trying to earn righteousness and salvation and always coming short!
2.      Heavy laden…burdened by sins.
a.       Bro. Ron’s testimony…”I felt like a car was lifted off of my shoulders!”
III.             Door of Hope in the Valley of Achor
a.       Achor means trouble
b.      This was the valley they first  came to when they were coming out of the promised land
c.       It was a fruitful place that spoke of many possibilities to the children of Israel
d.      But Achan, ruined it with his sin
e.       When He refused to repent, (he had plenty of opportunities while the tribes, then the households, then the families, then the individual was being chosen!)  judgment came, Achan was put to death and then the Children of Israel went on to victory!
f.       Many times it is our trouble, our brick wall that brings us to the place where we can experience a change.  A door of hope in the midst of our trouble.  We begin to look to God when we are in a trouble that no one else can get us out of.
IV.             Woman at Simon’s House (Read G. L. Crain’s sermon on “Jesus Knows” (included) for further insights on this point)
a.       People couldn’t understand her worship
b.      In another place they said “Why this waste?” Mary called it worship, but Judas called it waste!
c.       Because He didn’t really know what it was like to have been forgiven.


Conclusion: When a priest says your sins are forgiven, that means nothing, but when Jesus says your sins are forgiven, that means everything!
  
Illustrations:  As Alexander the Great was setting out on his conquest of Asia, he inquired into the finances of his followers. To ensure that they would not be troubled over the welfare of their dependents during their absence, he distributed crown estates and revenues among them. When he had thus disposed of nearly all the royal resources, his friend General Perdiccas asked Alexander what he had reserved for himself. "Hope," answered the king.
"In that case," said Perdiccas, "we who share in your labors will also take part in your hopes." He then refused the estate allotted to him, and several other of the king's friends did the same. 

Some time ago I saw a picture of an old burned-out mountain shack. All that remained was the chimney...the charred debris of what had been that family's sole possession. In front of this destroyed home stood an old grandfather-looking man dressed only in his underclothes with a small boy clutching a pair of patched overalls. It was evident that the child was crying. Beneath the picture were the words which the artist felt the old man was speaking to the boy. They were simple words, yet they presented a profound theology and philosophy of life. Those words were, "Hush child, God ain't dead!" 
That vivid picture of that burned-out mountain shack, that old man, the weeping child, and those words "God ain't dead" keep returning to my mind. Instead of it being a reminder of the despair of life, it has come to be a reminder of hope! I need reminders that there is hope in this world. In the midst of all of life's troubles and failures, I need mental pictures to remind me that all is not lost as long as God is alive and in control of His world. 

Intro:  (This happened recently to a church in St. Louis on Holly Hills Boulevard) The baby Jesus, stolen from the Nativity scene.  Sad, but not personally affecting me, you see, they can take that Jesus, because He is plastic, but they can’t take the one in my heart!  He is real.  The plastic one only reminds me that Jesus came as a baby in a manger to walk this life we are in.  It reminds us yearly that there is HOPE!

I.                   It reminds me that God is not done with us yet!
a.       Jesus speaking to Simon, tells him, thou art Simon, but thou shalt be peter! A Rock!
b.      He hasn’t experienced the change yet, but you SHALL BE!
c.       Noah’s day there was a flood…God said Enough!  to a bunch of people.  He didn’t have to send His Son to us, the fact that He did says He is not done with us yet.
II.                Change is possible
a.       Peter changed
b.      I changed
c.       Not the power of a new resolution, but a new revolution, Christ becomes the king in our heart
d.      To the sinner, He says Repent!  Change is possible
e.       That is what religion does, it condemns, but gives no hope to change.  Tells you what is wrong, but doesn’t tell you how to get right, or offers methods that can not work. 
                                                              i.      Working and self change can’t do it
                                                            ii.      Mat 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
1.      Labor…did He really mean physical labor?
a.       No!  Those that were laboring to find a way of acceptance before God.  Trying to earn righteousness and salvation and always coming short!
2.      Heavy laden…burdened by sins.
a.       Bro. Ron’s testimony…”I felt like a car was lifted off of my shoulders!”
III.             Door of Hope in the Valley of Achor
a.       Achor means trouble
b.      This was the valley they first  came to when they were coming out of the promised land
c.       It was a fruitful place that spoke of many possibilities to the children of Israel
d.      But Achan, ruined it with his sin
e.       When He refused to repent, (he had plenty of opportunities while the tribes, then the households, then the families, then the individual was being chosen!)  judgment came, Achan was put to death and then the Children of Israel went on to victory!
f.       Many times it is our trouble, our brick wall that brings us to the place where we can experience a change.  A door of hope in the midst of our trouble.  We begin to look to God when we are in a trouble that no one else can get us out of.
IV.             Woman at Simon’s House (Read G. L. Crain’s sermon on “Jesus Knows” (included) for further insights on this point)
a.       People couldn’t understand her worship
b.      In another place they said “Why this waste?” Mary called it worship, but Judas called it waste!
c.       Because He didn’t really know what it was like to have been forgiven.


Conclusion: When a priest says your sins are forgiven, that means nothing, but when Jesus says your sins are forgiven, that means everything!

Rev. G. L. Crain's Sermon:
He Knows What You Are!




Text:    Luke 7:39   Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
             


Bible Reading:

Luke 7:36-40 36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.


Introduction:

A.  Jesus At Simon’s House.

1.      In our Bible setting we see a man named Simon invited Jesus to his house to eat.

2.      Simon was a Pharisee.  Which the Pharisees was a religious sect of the Jews.  Simon was a Pharisee a religious hypocrite.

3.      Jesus accepted the invitation & went to Simon’s house and sat down to eat.

4.      And about that time a woman in the city which was a sinner.

5.      She was known in the city of Nain as a sinner.

6.      When she knew that Jesus sat at meat in Simon’s house she brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind him weeping.

7.      And she began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head.  And she kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.

a.       This was a custom among the Jews, Greeks & Romans. 
b.      It was a mark of affection & reverence.
c.       It was practiced by supplicants in making an important request & by conquered people as a token of subjection & obedience.
d.      This was the first of three anointing of Jesus – here & twice during the week of His death.


B.  Simon Finds Fault.

1.           Now when Simon saw this he found fault.  And he said within himself….

2.           This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who & what manner of woman this is that toucheth him:  for she is a sinner.

3.           Who knows what people say in their hearts….

4.           But Jesus knew who she was & what she was.  He even knew Simon’s thoughts by the Holy Ghost.



C.  Jesus Knows.

1.      And Jesus said to Simon, Simon I have somewhat to say unto thee.  And he said, Master, say on.


D.  A Certain Creditor.

1.      Luke 7:41-47
41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

2.      44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

3.      And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

4.      And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

5.      And he said to the woman, thy faith hath saved thee: go in pace.








I.          Jesus Knows Who We Are.        

A.  Jesus Knew Who She Was.

1.      Simon said, This man if he were a prophet, would have known who & what manner of woman this is that toucheth him.

2.      He reasoned in his own mind & concluded that Christ did not know wht kind of woman this was.

3.      But Jesus knew who she was & what kind of woman she was.

4.      And he knew


B.  Jesus Knows Who We Are.

1.      He knows who we are & what we are.


C.  The Work of the Holy Spirit.

1.      The first thing the Holy Spirit seeks to do in the life of a sinner is to convince them of:

2.      Who they are.

3.      What they are.

4.      Their need of a Savior.





II.        Jesus Knew She Needed Forgiveness.  

A.  He Not Only Knew What She Was.

1.      He knew what she needed.

2.      Simon didn’t know.


           
B.  He Knows What We Need.

1.      He knows what we have need of.

2.      Healing, Forgivness, mercy, love, difficulties, tested, etc…. Holy Ghost power….
C.  Salvation.

1.      A Savior.  He knew what we needed that’s why he sent his son…


D.  Holy Ghost.

1.      Power.

2.      Helpeth our infirmities.




II.  He knows What He Can make You



III.  He knows What you can Become!



IV. It doesn't Matter what you Are.



Conclusion:


Wednesday, December 14, 2011

The Catfish and The Cod

Rev. Webster in Germany shared this illustration with me:


"Let me tell you a story of the cod fish. At the turn of the century cod fish were in much demand on the east coast. News of this tasty fish spread across the country all the way to the west coast. There was however a problem. How could they get the fish across the country and still keep it fresh. They tried to freeze the fish and send it by rail, the fastest means at the time. When it was prepared it turn out to be very mushy and lacked flavor. Then someone decided to ship the fish live turning railroad cars into huge saltwater aquariums. When the cod fish arrived they were still alive but when they were prepared they were still mushy and tasteless. After studying the cod fish someone discovered that their natural enemy was the catfish. This time when the cod fish were but in the tanks they place a few catfish in with them. Those catfish chased the cod fish all the way across the country to the west coast. This time when they were prepared they were flaky and had the same flavor as they did when they were caught fresh and prepared on the east coast. You see the catfish kept the cod from becoming stale. The catfish kept them fresh. ...

"...There are those people who are catfish in life. And they keep you on your toes, they keep you guessin’, they keep you thinkin’, they keep you fresh. And I thank God for the catfish, because we would be dull and boring if we didn’t have somebody nipping at our fin."

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

The Road To Bethlehem Part 3 "Healing"

Bible Reading John 4:4-29
So many of today can relate to that old song…running on empty. 
Especially during the holiday season! Running from store to store, trying to get all of the obligations covered. On top of that, many have to deal with the financial concerns of an economy that has been troubled. It can frazzle your nerves!
This woman was experiencing the same thing. She was empty, she was thirsty and she wanted to be filled.  She had tried what we all did.  Filling up with the things that seem be the answer. Yet no matter how much she tried to refill her vessel, satisfaction eluded her, she was broken and couldn’t stay satisfied.
When God first made man, He made us whole, complete, no holes, no leaks, no lacks,
There was joy, companionship with God and each other, no sickness, no death, no disappointments, no betrayals, no gossip, no rejection, Adam and Eve disobeyed God, ripped God out of their lives, and chose sin.  In essence they had drilled a hole through their hearts, and from then man began to try and fill it.
                If I am lonely…get a man, or a woman or a crew of friends and I won’t be lonely anymore
                If I am not happy…drink, get high, so I can laugh
                If I sense something is missing…fill it with something new, jeans, phone, perfume, car, house
***Illus with water bottles with holes.  Refilling the leaking vessels, representing the ways we try to fill the emptiness within.
We keep filling, but it never stays full
***A BROKEN VESSEL CAN NEVER BE FULL (FOR LONG)
Teenagers, young adults, have lots of opportunities to keep the supply coming
                Friends by the boatloads
                Beauty and strength to spare, to attract others
                Carefree and w/ little worry, no mortgage, bills, etc to keep them burdened.
Yet the time comes, when the supply runs out.  High school ends, we go our separate ways, pressures of life start to mount and we find ourselves, lonely, empty and yearning for something.
God deals with it in a different way.
Instead of always pouring into a broken vessel, Jesus’ coming means healing to us!
But if we limit healing to only the physical, we sell it short.
Luk_5:17  And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
But what were they sick of? Diseased with? Disabled by? We  don’t read of them sick of the palsy, paralyzed, nor do we read of them physically blind, lame, deaf, or dumb.  But they still needed a healing!
Joh_12:40  He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
What were they healed of?
Even when the friends of the lame man lowered him through the roof at a house where Jesus was teaching, the first thing Jesus did to him was to forgive his sins, to heal him spiritually!
(Mar 2:4)  And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
(Mar 2:5)  When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.Before there is a filling there must be a healing!!!

The problem is not that we don’t have enough things to fill us and satisfy.
The problem is that we are broken and can’t hold anything!!!

So then all that God intended for us to enjoy: (1Ti 6:17  … who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;…)
Flows through us and does little to satisfy.
Friendships, sexual escapades, the things of this world, do little, they dribble out of the holes in our lives and are left on the ground behind us.

We need a Healing!

When you think about the greatest pain you have experienced as a human being on the planet,
                The pain standing at a graveside…
                Crying your eyes out when you have been betrayed…
                One you love telling you they don’t want you anymore, the rejection rips you in two.
                Unable to get forgiveness from one who has left this world…
                A physical problem that keeps you from having children
The greatest pain is usually not a physical pain, that will pass!  It is a spiritual and emotional ache!

The singers sing how can you mend a broken heart?
Jesus came and said (Isa 61:1)  The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Jesus talks to this woman and He goes straight to her area of brokenness ”Go call thy husband…”
We can’t be healed unless we let God come in and deal with our area of brokenness.
She didn’t run!  She opened up.

When the holes are plugged, you don’t need much to satisfy.
With food and clothes be content.
Told the Roman soldiers “Be content with your wages…”

(Isa 53:5)  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Wounded…physical for our transgressions…spiritual
Bruised…physical for our iniquities…spiritual
With His Stripes…physical  WE ARE HEALED…spiritual
Physical for Spiritual

Yes of course we believe in physical healing, but don’t sell this healing short!  He means for us to be healed in body, Soul AND Spirit!
Jesus Heals the Soul

What about the Christian?  Dealing with Chronic sin and temptation?
Jas 5:15  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Jas_5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Once we open up and confess our sin to another, and they in true Christian humility and concern pray for you, that you would be healed, forgiven, cured.  That innocent, by the blood of the Lamb, person’s prayer are powerful.
NOTE: Save the sick…heal the sinner…(confess faults, not sicknesses, ye may be healed)

So often we take this portion of the verse out of its context and just quote “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” But the true context is, that man, praying for his brother to be healed (spiritually and physically) is POWERFUL!


Thursday, December 08, 2011

The Road To Bethlehem Part 2 "Peace"


We are leading up to the celebration of the birth of our Savior.  When the day comes and the presents are opened and the food is eaten and the family is called or hugged, we want there to be something more left over then just torn wrapping paper, empty boxes and broken toys.  That is why we are taking these five weeks and focusing on just what Christ’s coming means to us.  So there will be more meaning, more substance in our celebration.

The angels announced His coming, telling us that they brought good tidings of great joy to all people.  Presents under a tree, grandma’s ham, sis Martha’s sweet potato pie, may all be good, but not sufficient to announce GREAT Joy to all people. So why is there such a celebration?  Let’s see.

Last week we deal with Recovery. Christ’s coming means we can recover the most important thing we lost:  Our relationship with God.  That is why when we learn His name shall be Immanuel, meaning “God with us” we can have great joy.  Our relationship with Him can be restored.

This week we read of Him being the Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:6
(6)  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.


In the OT the word for Peace is Shalom.  Just like some greet people here.  Peace….so they would say Shalom.  But it means more then just an absence of war, fear etc.  It means wholeness, prosperity, a completeness throughout creation. The end of injustice, that this Shalom would flow deep and wide and there would be one who would bring it.  The Messiah, or the Prince of Peace.

Tim Keller illustration...see HERE




I.                   Sin shatters our peace and makes it “unrestorable” in our own methods…
a.       When Jesus Comes He promises to bring an end to war.  That the nations would beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks and nations would not learn war anymore. 
b.      Politicians try and bring this peace…
c.       Our problem is we want peace without the prince…
d.      Treaties etc.  Neville Chamberlain…peace in our time…
e.       No peace until the Prince of Peace returns for the world
f.       That may be great and perhaps would strike a deeper chord if we were in the middle of a war with tanks in our streets and hiding for our lives, but I can’t relate well to that peace.
g.      What about the war in our heart? What do we do with our guilt?
h.      What about the guilt that steals our peace.
i.        ILLUS: when I almost died and had no peace standing, sitting etc…
j.        Hell is described as a place where there is torment forever
                                                              i.      Fear has torment
                                                            ii.      Constant noise
                                                          iii.      Constant burning fumes
                                                          iv.      Eternal pain, no rest
                                                            v.      There is no rest to the wicked.  No peace
                                                          vi.      Isa_48:22  There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.
                                                        vii.      Isa_57:21  There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
k.      The devil is the enemy of peace and works to have constant turmoil
                                                              i.      Music
                                                            ii.      Media
                                                          iii.      Business
II.                There can be no peace with others until there is peace within yourself (Need to be Peace with God, Peace with self, Peace with others)
a.       Most of the fights are because there is an unrest within
b.      Jealousy is a symptom of insecurity within
c.       But by pride cometh contention
d.      REMEMBER the mote in your brothers eye shows you that you have a beam in your own!
III.             That’s what Christ brings, a peace treaty
a.       Unconditional surrender
b.      ILLUS” the girl that ministered among the Japanese p.o.w.s and the man asks how they were treated.  Why was she being so kind?  He parents were killed by Japanese in the Philippine islands, and were allowed 30 minutes to pray.  What did they pray for?  She determined to show the love of Christ that melted the need for revenge. 
c.       The soldiers wanted to know what kind of power could melt that reging hatred and desire for revenge into loving service to her enemies?  It was Jesus and His forgiveness.
d.      If Jesus can say “Forgive them Lord for they know not what they do….” Surely we can forgive others and have peace among ourselves.
e.       We had offended God by our sin.
f.       We had brought a brokenness in our human condition because of our sin
g.      Families are affected
h.      Hearts are broken
i.        People are shattered by the war
j.        ILLUS Many soldiers coming home with PTSD and other mental disorders…Horrible to see what mankind can do one to another. Yet there is a peace giver.
k.      (Col 1:20)  Through him uniting all things with himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, uniting all things which are on earth or in heaven.


Isa 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.