WEBVTT 00:00:03.359 --> 00:00:12.640 Well as we continue to uh soak in those words this morning, uh reminded of the lengths to which uh God has come. 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:26.320 Let us uh hear these same words from uh Doctor Luke, writer of Luke's gospel, chapter two, verses eight through twenty this morning. 00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:32.000 Here now the reading of God's holy word. 00:00:33.200 --> 00:00:49.439 And the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night, and an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 00:00:49.759 --> 00:00:58.719 And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold I bring you good news of great joy, that will be for all the people. 00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:07.200 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:10.560 And this will be a sign for you. 00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:15.760 You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:31.280 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased. 00:01:32.079 --> 00:01:43.200 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. 00:01:44.319 --> 00:01:50.239 And they went with haste and found Miri and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger. 00:01:51.280 --> 00:02:01.760 And when they saw it they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child, and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:08.000 But Miri treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:17.520 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen as it had been told to them. 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:19.520 Amen. 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:30.319 Gracious Father, we praise you and thank you for the word that you have given to us, your light. 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:33.439 Father, we thank you for the gift of your spirit. 00:02:33.599 --> 00:02:41.199 For we know, Lord, that uh we need, even this morning, fresh faith to receive what you would bring to us. 00:02:41.840 --> 00:02:50.319 Lord, we need fresh illumination that you would work and bring us light to have a warming, saving influence upon us. 00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:53.439 And Lord, we know we need you for that. 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:57.120 And so we ask, we pray that you would give us that gift. 00:02:57.439 --> 00:02:59.840 And we pray and ask all these things in Jesus' name. 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:00.639 Amen. 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:07.599 So we come to the second song in Luke in this uh series of Advent. 00:03:07.759 --> 00:03:10.879 We've been looking at the songs of Advent. 00:03:11.520 --> 00:03:17.680 And um, it's a song that has a heavenly origin, it's a song of the angels. 00:03:17.919 --> 00:03:23.120 And for many uh today know it as the greater doxology. 00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:32.319 Uh and I and I was reminded this week as I was thinking about this, just how thankful I am for the songs that are given to us in the scriptures. 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:36.879 Um, because songs have a way of traveling with us, don't they? 00:03:37.439 --> 00:03:44.000 They they they impress themselves on our minds and they they work their way into our affections. 00:03:44.560 --> 00:03:49.599 And and before we know it, we're you know, singing in the car, right? 00:03:49.919 --> 00:03:56.879 We're we're we're we're singing in the office or as we do our shopping or in the home. 00:03:58.080 --> 00:04:05.120 Songs have a way of working themselves deeply into our consciousness. 00:04:05.439 --> 00:04:21.680 And so I want to rejoice with you this morning over the wonders that we see in this song, in this text, and that my prayer would be this morning that we too would find reason to join in this heavenly song, afresh and anew. 00:04:22.560 --> 00:04:26.399 And so we see some of the wonders in this text. 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:29.360 First wonder is a lowly descent. 00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:31.120 A lowly descent. 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:34.800 The second wonder is the way of peace announced. 00:04:35.040 --> 00:04:40.160 And then the second and the third wonder is a peace that permeates. 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:43.439 A peace that permeates. 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:47.360 First, the great wonder of a lowly descent. 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:55.519 Uh we look and we read these verses that uh the uh the shepherds were out in the field and they were doing their thing. 00:04:55.680 --> 00:05:00.240 They were uh shepherds by occupation, and here they were out in a field. 00:05:00.399 --> 00:05:14.000 Uh the sheep were not uh, I guess, in the sheepfalled, as it were, but they were out in the field and they were looking after them in the midst of the starry sky or the pitch black of night. 00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:20.800 And then suddenly, all of a sudden, this great light dawns upon them. 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:24.000 This great sudden light comes to be upon them. 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:29.519 The glory of the Lord shines as this angel comes to them to bring them a message. 00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:33.360 And we know by experience uh something of that. 00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:47.600 Perhaps uh perhaps you've been out in the in the middle of the dark, and and then uh this great light comes toward you, whether it's the headlights in a car or whether it's um a spotlight of someone who's looking for you or something of that nature. 00:05:47.920 --> 00:06:00.480 But in that moment, we are suddenly we recognize the difference between being the subject of the light shining on us and the difference between that and the person who's actually shining the light. 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:08.639 They can see us very clearly, but we as the recipients are exposed by the sharpness and the tensity of the light. 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:16.959 And so we can uh resonate, I think, with the shepherds who stood in fear over what was taking place. 00:06:17.519 --> 00:06:28.079 And yet, if we dig a little deeper, we see God's intention in the midst of this, and it's God's intention that he bring the good news to those who are far off. 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:38.000 And coming to these shepherds, the news of God's glory was coming to those who were far off. 00:06:38.160 --> 00:06:40.000 In what ways were they far off? 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:45.920 Well, the fact that we're told of their occupation, them being shepherds, gives us something of a clue. 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:51.279 Shepherds, a shepherd's testimony wasn't uh legitimate in court. 00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:58.000 And um perhaps the reason for that was due to the lack of witnesses outside their own cohort. 00:06:58.160 --> 00:07:00.160 Uh, and so they couldn't be trusted. 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:15.439 And so if a a lamb uh was uh taken from the fold, uh they might be accused of having done it themselves, and so they were liable to be taken advantage of by people. 00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:20.399 Uh that was one of the realities of being a shepherd. 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:24.399 Another one was that they had a number of occupational hazards. 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:38.879 You think about the work that they were involved in, it was in the outdoors, it was against uh those that sought to perhaps steal the sheep, those who would uh, or those animals that would try to devour the sheep. 00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:43.120 And so they were prey to thieves and wild animals. 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:50.319 And you have to wonder what that kind of line of work would have had upon them and their families if they had families. 00:07:50.480 --> 00:08:05.759 I think there would have been some conversations about uh the concern of whether they would come home at night, whether they would find their way back to their families in the midst of the occupational hazards. 00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:17.199 And so we get a little bit of an insight into what that might have looked like as they talked with their children and perhaps family members, the risks involved. 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:26.399 The third thing was that they were, because of their work in the fields, they were deemed to be ceremonially unclean. 00:08:27.439 --> 00:08:33.840 And that had a social impact that made them like outcasts socially, much like that of a leper. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:41.279 If a leper was the lowest of the low, shepherds were kind of the next in the social chain, as it were. 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:59.200 And that meant that the reinforcement of distance, the reinforcement of their lack of inclusion in society from others would have been a daily reality worked into their existence and even their own sense of identity. 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:06.480 And so, in light of all this, we can imagine the potential for spiritual dejection. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:09.279 Spiritual dejection. 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:10.799 We know something of that, don't we? 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:18.240 When a troubling or hard circumstance or a hard providence comes upon us, our spirits often sink, don't they? 00:09:20.159 --> 00:09:23.519 A hard providence often raises all kinds of questions. 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:25.279 Where is God? 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:28.879 It appears that he is distant. 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:35.840 What meaning, if any, does all of this have? 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:38.159 You know, the search for significance. 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:39.679 Does he even care? 00:09:41.200 --> 00:09:49.679 And yet, to the far off, to these people, these shepherds whose names we do not know, to them the angel comes with good news. 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:57.039 And they are completely freaked out until they hear the words, fear not. 00:09:58.240 --> 00:09:59.200 Fear not. 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:08.080 How precious and how glorious are the words that the gospel brings, and bringing to us the good words, fear not. 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:23.759 You know, it's through the gospel that hearts are transformed from quaking and fear to giving forth a sense of wonder at who God is. 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:28.320 Because it comes to us, the gospel comes to us and it says to us, Fear not. 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:31.519 I have good news for you. 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:56.960 And so and so the prophecy given centuries beforehand through the prophet Isaiah was fulfilled, in which we read, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, mighty or strong God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 00:10:57.360 --> 00:11:01.200 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end. 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:04.639 There will be no end to the wholeness in which he brings. 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:16.159 And on the throne of David and over his kingdom to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forever. 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:21.519 So note how personal this good news is. 00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:31.759 Fear not, because unto you, it says, unto you is born this day a child in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:37.440 And so here he is, as the as they take the journey over to the manger. 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:41.919 Here is this little baby, Jesus, who was born into a poor family. 00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:51.919 He's lying in a manger with no prestige, no status, no social media followers if we're to consider it in light of today. 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:56.879 No ceremony, no riding in the clouds, no trumpets. 00:11:58.320 --> 00:12:00.960 He came not to be served, but to serve. 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:02.960 A lowly descent. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:05.200 And so what does this tell us? 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:09.120 Well, it tells us that the gospel comes to us at street level, doesn't it? 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:14.559 Perhaps you know what it feels like to be spiritually dejected. 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:19.600 To feel as though God is just distant from you. 00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:24.159 That he's not answering you, that he's not responding to you. 00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:27.200 And look again then, if that's you, to the manger. 00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:36.879 Let that convince you of the lengths to which God is willing to go to in order to stoop down to street level in order to bring you near. 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:54.000 Consider the descent he made to leave the glory of heaven to all that was glorious above, to come down and to stoop into this broken world and to receive broken sinners like you and me, and to forgive all who come to him. 00:12:55.519 --> 00:13:06.159 Here is the one who occupies a manger, not a palace, to show us the depths that he is willing to stoop to in order to bring us his light. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:12.159 And so we see that God is pleased to come to those who are far off. 00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:16.559 You also see there's a way of peace announced. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:18.159 That's the second wonder. 00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:21.759 Heaven's gift comes down. 00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:51.440 If you look again at the text, you see, you'll notice that while it was one angel that brought this good news to the shepherds, now, in order to give a sense of the significance of what is taking place at this moment, in this time in history, into real life, and to all that we know, all that was happening at that point in time, a host of angels appear and they begin singing heaven's chorus. 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:54.559 Glory to God in the highest. 00:13:55.679 --> 00:14:06.080 And the significance of that is that in the coming of Christ, the greatest and purest and most beautiful light that is ever known to touch this world came. 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:13.039 Jesus Christ, the anointed Savior, arrives having both life and light in himself. 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:19.039 And being the eternal God, it's not just a light that kind of goes out. 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:26.000 It's a light that is always self-supplying, always shooting forth and emitting light. 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:30.639 Which means he sends forth his light and into all of the world. 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:36.080 And it never grows dim, it never, it never stops burning brightly. 00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:39.919 It's a pure light. 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:46.240 And that he contained no flaws, he contained no blemishes, no faults. 00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:55.360 That is the significance of the moment in which these angels were singing Glory to God in the highest. 00:14:55.600 --> 00:15:00.000 That's the beauty of Heaven's gift and the significance of this moment in history. 00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:06.240 And so we see heaven's gift, but we always see our peace. 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:08.639 Heaven's gift is our peace. 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:13.039 Because we go and read something of his saving purpose here. 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:18.879 Uh they also sing peace among those with whom he is pleased. 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:23.039 We often sing of it, don't we? 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:28.960 Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings. 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:36.159 Mild he lays, and is his glory by, born that man no more may die. 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:42.080 Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth. 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:58.720 Even in this wonderful hymn that we sing, it reminds us that he came to bring light and life, he came to bring healing, he came to deal with death, putting death to death, so that we might live. 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:05.440 Second birth. 00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:09.200 Heaven's light is our peace. 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:15.519 And so he came to be born into this world that he might also be born into our hearts. 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:21.120 He came then to be born into this world, but now he has come to be born in our hearts. 00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:42.240 And that's something I think we have to be clear about today because there are a lot of people who look at this, and they, and if they're even familiar with the Bible at all, they look at these passages and they say, Well, it's nice that the angels appeared to them and to those shepherds, and that a lot, a light shone around them, and that they had that experience. 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:48.080 But it's nice that uh he came into the world at that time. 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:52.639 But what does that mean for me and for us today? 00:16:53.200 --> 00:17:02.799 You know, what is what meaning does that have for me and all the suffering and the pain and the darkness that we experience at this present time? 00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:07.920 You know, it just all seems so far off. 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:13.359 That God did things among them, but not among us. 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:18.400 And that's a real reality for many, many, many people. 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:30.559 But the bit the message that we need to bring, that is good news, is that this light is not just for them then, but is for us now. 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:33.759 For you and I today. 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:43.279 You see, when we tend to think about peace, we tend to think of us having peace with God, trying to have peace with God. 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:51.759 But the gospel is first and foremost about God making a way so that he might make peace with us. 00:17:53.440 --> 00:18:00.960 In some ways, it doesn't really matter how we feel toward God if he has not made a way for him to have peace with us. 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:08.160 And so Jesus came as the way to draw, for him to draw near to us. 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:14.960 He made the way for him to draw near to us no longer with anger and wrath, but with pleasure. 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:18.400 That is the work that Jesus came to do. 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:22.559 And so he came as a baby, but he didn't remain as a baby. 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:32.960 He came into this world to live a perfect life as the only one who is competent enough to live under the law perfectly. 00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:34.559 And then he came to die. 00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:47.039 And in being buried for three days, he rose again from the dead, and now he is seated at the right hand of God the Father with all authority and majesty and glory bestowed to him. 00:18:47.440 --> 00:19:05.200 And now as risen Lord, he calls all people and all places at all times to turn from their ways and to turn to him as the way for peace, for wholeness, for life. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:11.119 And in receiving him as the way, heaven is opened up to us. 00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:18.960 That is what we're offering in the gospel because it's through him that we have access in one spirit to the Father. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:28.160 And so no longer is God judge, no longer is he simply creator, no longer is he someone who is just out there. 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:32.720 He is most intimately known to us in the depths of our heart as Father. 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:35.839 And that changes everything. 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:46.079 He came to be born into this world that he might also be born into our hearts. 00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:48.880 He's still bringing peace today. 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:50.240 Do you know that peace? 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:54.400 Have you come to know and enjoy that peace for yourself personally? 00:19:54.640 --> 00:20:00.160 It's one thing to know that Jesus came out into the into the world, but do you know that peace for yourself? 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:08.799 Has his light come to you as a source of life and beauty? 00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:12.799 He came to those who had nothing to bring. 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:14.720 That's what the shepherds remind us. 00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:16.400 They had nothing to bring. 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:18.960 And yet it was enough. 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:22.400 Because he came to do it all. 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:36.480 And so all that's left for us to do is to receive Him and to trust Him to be all that He is said to be, and all that He has said to have done, and to believe that He did it for you and I. 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:44.720 The only thing that stands in the way of us and receiving Heaven's glory is unbelief. 00:20:49.200 --> 00:21:03.839 And yet, and yet He came so that we might believe in Him and take hold of the promise that everlasting life can be given to us, and all manner of life given to us in His Son. 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:10.799 And so we sing, What heights of life, what depths of peace. 00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:18.799 There's no greater peace that we need, no deeper peace than we need than to know God's pleasure over us. 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:23.839 And that is something He has given to us in the coming of His Son. 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:31.839 When fears are stilled, when striving cease, my comforter, my all-in-all. 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:36.000 Here in the love of Christ I stand. 00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:41.599 You know you can stand in the love of Christ today, knowing his pleasure over you. 00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:46.000 He brings peace to the far off. 00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:49.759 But he also brings peace to those who are near. 00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:51.920 Look at those who saw the baby. 00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:54.319 All who were there wondered. 00:21:55.119 --> 00:21:59.599 But Miri, we notice, took things a little step further and pondered. 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:09.359 And you know, there's still a lot of wonder to be found at Christmas, even for those of us who know and are familiar with the Christian message. 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:23.039 The Christmas news, we've heard it perhaps plenty of times, but there is still wonder to be found because there is a big difference in being content with a glimpse of light and a focused attention on the light. 00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:30.960 To wonder means to study the truth of God's word so that it enters the door of our minds. 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:35.680 To ponder, however, means that we we dwell on this light. 00:22:35.839 --> 00:22:45.359 We dwell on the light that's given to us, and we turn it over, and we marinate in it, and we and we marinate in it until it enters the door of our affections. 00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:54.799 And it steeps into our hearts, and then it starts to bring with it life and beauty and goodness. 00:22:57.519 --> 00:23:02.240 And our hearts start to thaw and we start to want to sing. 00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:05.119 And a new song comes to us. 00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:13.759 And then the things we treasure enter the third door, which is the door of our will. 00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:18.400 And it impacts what we do and how we live. 00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:29.759 We read in Romans 8:1, the apostle says this, to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the spirit is life and peace. 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:39.039 And so this word to set here means to set the mind, means concentrated effort on heavenly things. 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:46.720 To live and to wait well in light of the second advent, knowing that Jesus is coming back again. 00:23:47.680 --> 00:24:00.400 To live well in light of that means that we're aiming to place ourselves more fully and more constantly under his gracious care as the Prince of Peace. 00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:14.240 I think there's nothing so comforting to us in the midst of all of the distresses that can plague us in this life than knowing that we have access to this kind of heavenly light. 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:36.400 There's nothing more comforting, nothing more beautiful than to know that we can look upon and ponder just as Mary did on the glory of God and the face of Jesus Christ, all that Jesus is to us, all that he has done for us, knowing we'll be doing the same very thing in heaven. 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:42.079 In the light of I am changing God. 00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:50.960 And so the psalmist singing of this light says, I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:54.319 I will sing praise to my God while I have being. 00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:59.759 May my meditation be sweet to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:09.359 Are you benefiting from God's glorious peace available to you in the midst of all of the challenges that you might face? 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:12.480 Are you struggling with conflict? 00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:19.039 God has come to bring and to enter into that conflict to bring you peace. 00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:25.680 Observe the willingness here in Jesus' descent to enter into the lives of sinners to bring peace. 00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:29.759 And meditate on his love for doing so for you. 00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:32.880 It may be through reading, it may be a song. 00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:43.440 If it's a song, put it on repeat until it starts to work its way into you, and you start to take the words in, and then you want to sing along. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:50.000 That's a good sign that oftentimes the word of God is working its way into us. 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:56.000 Warms your heart and it becomes like Mary, a treasure. 00:25:58.079 --> 00:26:02.799 And so we read that it's in believing that we are filled with joy and peace. 00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:09.920 Believing in him as our Prince of Peace leads to his peace permeating this life. 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:25.519 And so, in light of that, in light of this good news that's announced, there are three relationships that I pray that his peace would permeate as we believe and look to him as our source of peace. 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:28.079 The first relationship is peace with God. 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:34.240 The second peace that I pray that he would give you is peace with yourself. 00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:36.079 Peace in yourself. 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:39.599 And then the third, he would give you peace with others. 00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:42.160 First, peace with God. 00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:58.720 Romans 1 5 1 is a precious text in this regard because it reminds us that the peace of the peace that we have with God, it says, Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:26:58.880 --> 00:27:02.319 That is something that we possess in the present. 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:09.759 You know, when I look at the parting of the, you go back to the story and you look at the parting of ways. 00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:15.119 The shepherds go off, and it's interesting what they go off to do. 00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:17.759 They go off to continue being shepherds. 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:33.200 Mary still has many things to deal with, and this young child and the fear of a soon-to-be oppressor who is after his life, the troubles that they face and being a refugee family. 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:40.400 In one sense, nothing changes, and yet another sense everything changes. 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:42.640 What changed? 00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:51.680 What changed was God's view, or may I say, their view of God's posture towards them. 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:54.079 Their view of God's posture toward them. 00:27:54.240 --> 00:28:01.519 They knew God and leaving that manger that God's favor was upon them, that his pleasure was given to them. 00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:05.599 He knew they knew that his plans were good toward them. 00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:08.079 They knew he cared. 00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:14.319 And that peace that we have with God is foundational for all other peace. 00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:16.640 That's the first relationship. 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:21.839 The second relationship is peace with ourselves. 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:28.319 I pray that his peace would permeate your own inner being. 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:35.440 If we're honest, I think Christmas and Advent can sometimes be tumultuous. 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:39.200 Sometimes we can feel heavy for many reasons. 00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:42.559 And we say to ourselves, why am I so anxious? 00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:45.839 I mean, this ought to be a time of great peace. 00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:55.519 And the voice of the flesh can ramp up as though everything is our fault. 00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:58.240 And all these voices come. 00:28:58.319 --> 00:29:04.240 And what's important to understand about the flesh is that there are times in which it speaks with louder volume. 00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:13.200 It ramps up the noise, it dials up the volume and speaks more loudly to us of the things of our old nature. 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:20.240 The other thing it does is it speaks with greater frequency in different times in our lives and different points and circumstances. 00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:23.359 And so it starts to speak with greater frequency. 00:29:24.160 --> 00:29:31.839 And all of that can add to just a sense of being assaulted, robbing us of peace. 00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:39.039 Perhaps you can resonate with a psalmist who dealt with this in his own soul. 00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:42.640 He said, Why are you cast down on my soul? 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:46.319 And why are you in turmoil within me? 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:50.319 He lacked this inner peace. 00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:53.920 He struggled with this peace in himself. 00:29:54.319 --> 00:30:02.319 And yet it's into that intimate hostility that Jesus would draw near with his peace by his spirit. 00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:08.720 He is accessible to you and I at street level, even in the mess of all our emotions. 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:16.079 All of the things that tend to be worked up within us. 00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:21.359 And he would have us to throw them on him. 00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:23.839 Consider who he is to you. 00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:25.359 Wonderful counselor. 00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:28.319 That means he's all wise. 00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:33.920 He has wise words of wisdom to impart to you in the midst of such situations. 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:36.880 But he's also mighty God. 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:43.680 Not only is he wise, he has power to work his wisdom into the depths of your troubles. 00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:59.599 Now, we know that sometimes power is not used for good, but we draw comfort from the fact that his power is also directed for our good because he's everlasting Father. 00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:02.319 Which means he wants to help us. 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:08.640 Not only does he have power, but he wants to use that power in such a way that will bring you peace. 00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:14.000 And so he is also called the Prince of Peace. 00:31:14.880 --> 00:31:22.799 There is no one working so intently for you and I as the Prince of Peace. 00:31:24.880 --> 00:31:30.319 Our anxieties and our cares are not things to suppress, but they're things to acknowledge. 00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:40.799 And when we acknowledge them, it means we're able to take them and we're able to cast them and throw them on him because he loves you, because he cares for you. 00:31:40.880 --> 00:31:44.559 And so he lends you his ear and he lends you his support. 00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:58.079 And so the psalmist concludes by singing words of comfort, hope in God, for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. 00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:02.160 Peace with ourselves. 00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:05.599 The third, there's peace with others. 00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:13.200 The psalmist laments at one point, too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace. 00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:24.400 And what's again interesting to note is that the Bible doesn't sugarcoat the peace of the hostility that one experience in a fallen world, does it? 00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:29.119 Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace. 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:34.319 It's brutally honest and it's realistic that this is life. 00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:46.240 But it does empower us to enter into the fray with a heavenly light, to enter into the realities of living in a fallen world as peacemakers. 00:32:47.119 --> 00:32:59.440 And so living under the government of the Prince of Peace, who is pleased to supply us with this inner peace, peace with him, inner peace, allows us to enter into the fray. 00:33:00.079 --> 00:33:07.039 And so the Apostle Paul says, if possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 00:33:08.880 --> 00:33:22.319 Some of you may already be considering, perhaps even dreading, that's a strong word, but maybe dreading some of the people you're gonna be with over the next uh few weeks. 00:33:24.079 --> 00:33:29.759 Maybe there's a conflict that's drummed up, but you know you need to move in. 00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:37.680 Ask the Spirit to help you move into these relationships with wisdom and as an agent of his peace. 00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:47.519 It may not always be received well, but entrust yourself in such times to the one who judges justly and he will care for you. 00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:57.039 Oh, may the glorious peace permeate the darkness with his light and glorify his name. 00:33:57.279 --> 00:34:02.799 Peace with God, peace with ourselves, peace with others. 00:34:03.599 --> 00:34:04.160 Amen. 00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:05.200 Let's pray. 00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:14.400 Oh gracious Father, we praise you and we thank you for the gift of your light. 00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:24.079 We thank you for the gift of your amazing love that descended to such depths to bring us near. 00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:38.639 Father, we pray that uh you would help us continue to sit under and experience the wonder and the warmth and the joy of your light to us. 00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:42.960 We know we need your help and your enabling in this. 00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:46.559 We know that we are oftentimes fickle in our faith. 00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:49.519 And yet, Lord, you are able. 00:34:49.840 --> 00:34:57.679 And so we ask and we pray that you would give us peace with you, peace in ourselves. 00:34:58.079 --> 00:35:07.440 And Lord, that you would enable us to be agents of peace in a world that needs peacemakers and your peace. 00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:11.920 And so, Lord, we ask and we pray all these things in your blessed Son's name. 00:35:12.159 --> 00:35:12.800 Amen.