The Eternal Gift - Peace | Week 2

Ever wondered why the shepherds, society's marginalized, were the first to hear the good news about Jesus' birth? Is there a profound message hidden within this often overlooked detail of the nativity story? We'll take you on a captivating journey through the joyous yet chaotic festive season, unwrapping the true meaning of Christmas and the everlasting peace it holds. Through biblical passages and personal anecdotes, we explore the essence of the season, the importance of presence, and the gift-giving traditions.

Imagine finding tranquility amidst the storm. Picture the calming peace of Jesus amidst chaos and how we can carry that same peace into our daily lives. We share personal experiences that highlight this cherished tranquility and draw parallels from the nativity story. We celebrate the humble shepherds, the first to receive the message of Jesus' birth, emphasizing God's love for all, irrespective of one's status or background. Tune in as we reflect on this transformative message of peace and God's unwavering love.

Taking the bold decision to follow Jesus is a powerful commitment, one that we invite you to consider. In this episode, we offer a simple prayer for salvation, inviting listeners to embrace Jesus and the peace he offers. We also touch on the impactful role of prayer, sharing heartwarming real-life experiences of healing and blessing. As we wrap up this profound journey, we extend a warm invitation to our family service, encouraging you to invite someone who's never been to church before. So, join us and discover the peace that Jesus offers this Christmas season.

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Transcript

Pastor Jason Brown: 0:00

We've been talking about this idea of presence. The question we have for us today is this do you have peace? We're thinking about presence at Christmas time and those are a good thing because it's a reflection of how Christ has given a gift to us and coming to us in a way we would understand, and the same way we give gifts during the holiday of his birthday to each other and remembrance of the gift he's given to us. We talked about all the different gifts and what that looks like, and it's funny because some people are about the bigger and better gift. How many people know what I'm talking about? You know the big, better gift. That's okay, that's all right, that's not bad.

Pastor Jason Brown: 0:36

Some people are more about. I don't care about that. I want quantity. Quantity is what they're going for. They want as much, as much as possible. For some of you.

Pastor Jason Brown: 0:44

You have those kids that are all about quantity. They're doing the math on how many presents their siblings have versus how many they have, and they're like why do they have one more? What do they have? One more? And those are the kids that you go to the dollar store and you buy everything you can find and then they're unwrapping stuff and they're happy and they're like it's a spatula. You're like it's a Christmas spatula, there you go, go for it and they have a good time. That's really. You know it's fun because sometimes you can really be kind of crazy, especially if you're trying to, like, you know, really give a stack of gifts to somebody and you're kind of like, okay, maybe I need to build it up or maybe it's a romance move, where you're like, okay, christmas season, you just stack it up and some ladies are like that's right, because at the end of it there better be some jewelry, it might be a diamond. You better say, I do, it's time. You know what I'm talking about. It's like no pressure, it's awesome because the gifts that we think about and all this stuff, it goes beyond the gifts itself. It's really about that moment when the kids get to do this and open the gifts and go through it. It's really about that moment of someone receiving a gift. It's that powerful thing. It's really not about the stuff itself, it's more about that connection and you know it's a craziness that happens.

Pastor Jason Brown: 1:52

You think about all the kids and all the crazy of that, the music and the food and the preparation of that stuff, and maybe you have lots of meetings going on in your normal life and you're doing all that stuff and timelines and deadlines, and on top of that you have Christmas work parties and all sorts of other things happening. And then you're going for Christmas events and the kids are doing things and it gets to that time and they're just going crazy and they're like and it's glitter inside the house and you're like, oh no, and you're freaking out and they're going and they're you know they're doing paper angels in the middle of all the stuff and you're just like, ah, and all mom and dad really wanted for Christmas was some peace and quiet, peace and quiet. And here's the thing it is true, it's very true. But at the same time, I think there becomes a stage when your kids grow up and they go out and they do other things and it's not the busyness of that anymore. Maybe you grow up and you head out and it's not what it was whenever you were a kid and it's a little bit more empty. It's a little bit less of the pomp and the circumstance and the fun and the joy of Christmas. And it begins with this thing that you think you wanted was actually becomes a huge chasm, a gap in your life. Let us be reminded that at Christmas, it is that time together, it is that time with each other that we should cherish, because it's one of those things that is only done when we're together and that at this Christmas, we would do all those things not just for the fun and revelry of that, but for the real reason of the season, which is peace in God, because the peace that we're looking for is already here. The peace is found in Jesus. You say amen to that, amen.

Pastor Jason Brown: 3:41

We've been talking about this idea of Christmas, and the idea is the eternal gift. It's our theme that we have. Actually, rihanna just beautifully read the scripture that we're using as a theme for us and says this in Isaiah nine, verse six for for to us a child is born and a son is given, the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace. Of the increase of his government of peace there will be no end, and on the throne of David over his kingdom, to establish it and uphold it with justice, with righteousness, from this time forth and forever more, the zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. You say amen to that.

Pastor Jason Brown: 4:28

Each week we're taking a different look, a different attribute of what these things are and the eternal gift for us, and today we're taking a look at this idea of peace eternal. If you have your Bible, your tablet, your phone, if you move with me and open today to Luke 2, I'm gonna be starting in verse 13. 13 onto 14, it says this glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace among those with whom he is pleased. A question today is do you have peace? Let's pray, lord. Thank you so much for your word. Thank you, lord, for breathing upon it and making it alive. Holy Spirit, we ask that you would just have your way with us and in us and through us, lord, that by your word today it would be transformative, lord. It would become something that is alive and challenges us to become more like you. We pray all this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, amen. Hey, we're so glad you're with us today at Cornerstone.

Pastor Jason Brown: 5:27

If we haven't met, my name is Jay and Celeste and I have such an amazing opportunity to lead the team here at Cornerstone. You know it's a blessing, because all of us realize that all of us fall short. None of us is perfect. All of us need a Savior, all of us are in process, following Jesus. That's why we use this imagery of walking with Christ, because we see ourselves as on that journey. All of us are following him as his disciples. None of us has arrived anywhere. All of us are still on that pace, and so, since that's true, then we need to keep on keeping on. Our ambition, our focus, our drive is to be more like Jesus, and we realize that we fall short of that, and so that's why we come together. That's why we come and have these times of gathering of the church together is that we would be recharged, refocused and have that intimate moment with him, that, as we spend our quiet time with him, it would keep us going and keep focused to be more like him and, especially in this season, that we would be the love of God wherever we go.

Pastor Jason Brown: 6:28

As we look to this idea of the eternal gift, we look to the scriptures as some of these imagery and what it would happen to say for us. I want to be one of those that wishes you a very merry Christmas and that, in your Christmas season, would be centered on Christ and on nothing else. Speaking of in Luke 2, this time in verse 8, it says this and in 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. 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. How many other people? All the people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you that you will find a baby wrapped in swatting clothes and lying in a manger. It continues, verse 13 says 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, among those with whom he is pleased.

Pastor Jason Brown: 7:39

Today, as we look at this idea, we talk about peace eternal. You know, as we look at those different pieces of the nativity, we see the different figures that are there and you know to me, obviously, you always had the baby Jesus in the middle, and you have, you know, mary and Joseph, because both of you always stand behind the baby, looking down at him right as parents. And then you know, you always have the guys who are wearing the most gold with all the cool stuff, and they got camels and all this. And off to the other side are these guys that are the shepherds. And if you're lucky, you got the extra sheep in your setup. You know what I'm talking about. So they're not. They don't get a whole lot of glamour. They're kind of like over here and you know, off to the side.

Pastor Jason Brown: 8:16

But here in this story we actually pick up with them and it becomes something entirely different. It starts to talk about who they are, what they're doing, and so we know that they're out in the field. It's. It's that time of season where they're out with their, with their flocks, in the field and they're looking after them and protecting them and that's what their job is.

Pastor Jason Brown: 8:33

And as shepherds they would have been a little bit on the fringe of society. They would have been one of those that's not a city folk not doing that type of stuff, but out in the field. They smell like the field, they smell like the sheep that they're protecting and they're called to be those that step up to take on whatever thing would face them. And so, as we pick up with this story here, it's really peculiar that the messenger of God would come to these people that are on the fringe of society. And Luke 2 A it says in the same region they were. Shepherds were out in the field and the glory the angel appears to them, says the glory of the Lord, shone around them and they were filled with great fear. Now, as you can imagine, if an angel showed up you would be afraid. We know, because throughout scripture it says the angel shows up and they were afraid.

Pastor Jason Brown: 9:25

It always says it and it's. It's wild to think about it because they it shows. That's there. And and not just that, it wasn't just that, this angelic being showed up. You gotta think about it. It's your job as the shepherd to be the one that protects the sheep. You're the one that's supposed to to go into fight. Your job is to to face it. And and suddenly you're out in the field, in the dark and night sky, and this angelic being shines out of nowhere and you're like Would you like some sheep? There's some sheep here available, would you all of them? How many do you need? Do you need some? You have friends, says they were afraid, and not just because they know they can't win this fight. But here's what it said the glory of the Lord showing around them. And here's the thing that you don't think about. It talks about when Gabriel's. He was speaking there and he's saying I Stand in the presence of God. That means he is there in the presence of the almighty God, because the Lord has given him the ability to do so. He reflects the power and the glory of God. So out of the dark and night sky, this messenger appears in the glory of God, shines. And it does more than just illuminate the scene, which it does, that. It does more than just show the power of the individual. It does that. But here's something else it also shows you how unholy you are. The glory of the Lord is one that penetrates us and shows us a real reflection of who we are. We makes us realize that we are not worthy of this presence being here. We are not worthy of whatever message is coming, because this power is holy and this is real power. This isn't a staff, this isn't a club, this is something else. This is divine. And the message that comes with it. It's so transformative, it's so challenging, because it's coming to these people who are a far off. It's coming to these ones that are there, saying that they belong to Just like you do. See Jesus. He came for you as well, because he loves you Just as much. And so this message that comes to these out of the way type of people out in the field, doing these things, not in a palace, not in the city center, not to the powerful, not to the rich, but to the every person, that's the one he came for, for every single one of us. That's how much he loves you. The message that comes is is one that's profound and it starts talking to us about what it would mean and being peace, the peace of God. Peace, the peace of God. You know, I was thinking about this.

Pastor Jason Brown: 12:24

Shiloh and I were hanging out, we were at the ocean and playing in the sea and we were having one of those times where we were trying to body surf some waves, and this earlier this year we were just kind of talking about it and she was talking to me about my time in college and university when I was learning to surf as Arizona kid out in the ocean. You know I was like a lot of beach, no waves. You know what I'm talking about. So it's like learning the process was tricky and so I'm talking to her about it how to plane your body and how to catch the wave over, how to duck under the waves so it doesn't blow you backwards, and we're talking about these things and about that whole process and started talking about what it really is like when the ocean waves really kick up. It's not just the normal stuff coming in, not just your normal tide and normal waveset, but like when a real big storm kicks off.

Pastor Jason Brown: 13:07

And made me think about this moment. We talked about it earlier in the year, actually about the time where Jesus was with his disciples in the middle of the storm, and it said that the storm kicked up and it was such a crazy thing that they were afraid that they were going to drown, that the boat was going to break up and it was going to be over. And it said that they were afraid and they were so scared. And all the while, jesus is asleep in the boat and I think this imagery depicts it well, showing him just there, you know, the peace upon his face. And it never really clicked with me in the same way it did, until thinking about it in this way, that the reason that he was resting is because he was already experiencing the peace of the Father. He was already in the peace of God and while they were looking for all these answers and they were clamoring this way and that and trying to make the salvation happen, he already knew the peace of God. He didn't need to worry at all. And so whenever he gets up, he says to them why do you have so little faith and what's the matter with you? What's going on with you? He commands the waves to be silent and they calm immediately. Think about all the wind and all the momentum and all the things that he just stopped stopped. Shhh, don't you wish it worked like that at your house. Whatever craziness, whatever storm is happening, you're like stop and it just stops. You'd be like that's right.

Pastor Jason Brown: 14:38

I can imagine Jesus probably went laid back down. You know he's like you think about that and you think about the peace he already had. See, it's the same piece that we're looking for is the peace of God, the one that rests in us, that not just us, but it becomes peace for others. The peace of God, in his presence already is going through us, and so whenever people encounter you and they're all stirred up and they're in a storm, they encounter the peace of God resting on you. This is those that would walk prepared with the gospel, the preparation of peace, that we would be those with peace amongst us, that as we go to a place, the peace of God rests upon those that we encounter. What if that would be said of us, of you, of me that we bring the peace of God wherever we go? Let it be said of us that we would be those peacemakers, peace bringers, the peace of God resting on us as we look to this scripture.

Pastor Jason Brown: 15:38

We pick back up here and the angel says to them fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. And he says what's happening today? In the city of David, which they know is Bethlehem, you will find this baby. And here's how you'll find the baby wrapped in swelling clothes, lying in a manger. They're like why is a baby in a manger Right? And so it kind of narrows it down where they start to look. So they head towards Bethlehem. And it's interesting because what they're realizing is that these angels are declaring to him peace, the peace of the world has arrived, the peace of God is here for you. And so they go and look to find the peace of God. It says this in Luke 2, 15,. When the angels went away to them, the shepherd said to one another let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that's happened, which the Lord has made known to us. It says, and with haste, they found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger.

Pastor Jason Brown: 16:39

We see that imagery so often of them going and worshiping the Christ child, and you would think about that, think about how they, as these outsider figures are the ones that get tapped to go and to worship the child. Think about it from Mary's perspective. She just came in birth to this child and it's a miracle from God. She had an angel tell her ahead of time, and Joseph the same. And hey, this is okay, this is from the Lord. And in all the different things they're experienced with Elizabeth and in spirit of God upon them and the grace of God. And then all these difficulties that they've encountered trying to find a place to have the baby because the baby was coming. And finally the baby is there, and Mary, of course, protective as a new mother, and Joseph his job as well to protect.

Pastor Jason Brown: 17:31

And here come these figures out of the darkness, probably into the cave, most likely is where it would look like in a manger to protect the animals from the elements. And here they come, kind of sulking out of the darkness like hey, hey. And you're like, hey, you smelly with the sheep, beat it. No. But what happens is they come in and you know, very humbly say hey, the angels told us where to find you. Can we please come and worship the Christ child too?

Pastor Jason Brown: 18:10

And you think about how they humbled themselves and they knelt down to where he was in the manger and they got to look upon the very face of God, the very creator, god who breathed life into all of us. They got to look upon his face as he emptied heaven, all the glory of all the things that are his, all those angels worshiping him before the throne. He said no to heaven. All of that, just so he could come in the form of a sacrifice for you and for me. For you and for me, for them that are outcasts. He came just for them, and he came for me, and I know all the things I've done, I know my mistakes, I know where I fall short. He did for you too, because he loves you that much. He came so that you could have peace, eternal peace.

Pastor Jason Brown: 19:21

And so, as they go and they worship him, they, they kneel before him and they look upon his face, and it's this radical transformation for them. They're experiencing a whole new level of what it means to encounter God. I love it because they don't keep it to themselves, but they go and they tell the story. This is when they saw it. They made known the saying who had been told to them concerning this child, and all who heard it, wondered at what the shepherds told them. Think about it.

Pastor Jason Brown: 19:53

They are using their testimony. They are using the word of God that has come to them. They're the ones that are sharing their experience. It's the same for us, as you've experienced the love, the grace, the peace of God. There are so many others that are searching for it, that have yet to hear about it, that we would be those that also take the peace of God to them. That we use the power of the spirit of God, who's guiding and directing us, who's giving us the words, to say to share the peace of God with others. That whenever they ask us about what's different with you, what's going on with you I'm experiencing something different than you, than what I'm going through you can share with them your testimony. You can say hey, and I love Christmas because Christmas is about Jesus and for me, I get to celebrate who he is to me and we get to anticipate that coming day and celebrate it together with friends and all these different things that we do as a society. They actually have meaning beyond that and you get to share the word, the gospel message, the peace of God with others.

Pastor Jason Brown: 21:01

Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace among those with whom he is pleased. See, peace begins with worship, the worship of the Christ child, because peace is found in Christ For us. Today, we have to understand that peace eternal is ours as we embrace it in faith, that we would be those too, by the way we live our life and even our worship of the Lord every day, be those who are saying glory to God in the highest. And just like the angels proclaimed over us that we would experience his peace, and it would be profound, even in the midst of difficulty, even in the midst of stress, even in the midst of turmoil, the very God who the shepherds looked upon that he would give you peace in this Christmas season. For us, as we come to this altar, we do so intentionally. We do so as those who have embraced Christ, and today is your opportunity to do the same.

Pastor Jason Brown: 22:15

You have to answer that question have you embraced Jesus? Each one of us has to answer. No one can answer for you. And here's the amazing thing is that he came to be the sacrifice for all people, for all time. That's why he came in the form of a baby and was born into this world in that way. He didn't come out of the clouds in a dynamic fashion. He came to be the very sacrifice for us all, and so that's why the symbol of the cross is so profound for us. It's so transformative, because the symbol of the cross is one of the sacrifice, the love that Christ has for us. He took all of my sins and all of my mistakes, all of yours, and he paid for it on the cross, once and for all. He did it so that we could be re-established back to the Father, so we could live with that same peace that he experienced in the middle of the storm, that we can have a relationship with him. We, as unholy beings, could never offer a holy sacrifice, so he had to come and become the holy sacrifice for us all.

Pastor Jason Brown: 23:20

Apostle Paul, he writes like this to the church at Rome. He says because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved, for with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Friends, today is your day of salvation. It's your opportunity to embrace Jesus. I'm going to ask if you're here in the room, if you just stand right where you're at and just bow your hearts, and if you're online, you just prepare your hearts for what God wants to do in you.

Pastor Jason Brown: 23:59

This year, we know that there's been over a hundred decisions for Jesus People making a decision to follow him, people making a recommitment to engage their life back after Jesus. Today is an opportunity for you as well. His heads are bowed here in the room and if that's you and you just say Pastor, I'll just include me in that prayer. Today is are there some that would raise their hand? And just raise your hand right where you're at, saying, lord, I want to invite him into my life, I want to invite him into my heart. I want to see the hands that are here and the hands that are there, Lord, you know the hearts of these that are making decisions for you online, that you're making a decision to follow Jesus. See wherever you are in the sound of my voice to make a decision. We're still very thankful for that. Thank you, jesus, for these that are raise their hands today.

Pastor Jason Brown: 24:44

It's a simple prayer, the one that we pray. I'm going to ask if everyone to pray it with me. It goes like this Lord, thank you for loving me and thank you for sending Jesus. I believe Jesus died on the cross for my sense. I believe he rose again. Forgive me of my sense. I surrender my life to you In Christ's name. I pray Amen. Amen. Friends, we rejoiced with those and made a decision to follow Jesus today. What a powerful thing, amazing. If that's you and you're here in the room, please, we want to put something into your hands and be successful in following Jesus. You can go and meet us at our prayer banner in the back after service. We want to give something to you. If you're online, message us. We want to send something to you so that you can be successful in living a life after Christ For all of us as we head to this altar, opportunity that we would be those who experience more of his peace, more of his grace, more of his presence in this season.

Pastor Jason Brown: 25:53

If you have anything separating you from Christ, that you would deal with it. Today we're going to open up this altar for all those that want to draw closer to God. Today, lord, we thank you so much for your word. We thank you, lord, that you are the peace we've been looking for and so, lord, we thank you for those things, lord, we ask of your impartation, holy Spirit, that you would impart to us your presence in a deeper way, that you would draw us closer to yourself, lord. That through you and your presence, lord, that we would experience the peace of God Not just us, but, lord. That we would be a conduit of the peace of God to others around us, lord, that you would flow through us to them and that they too would experience the peace of God. Lord, as we draw close to you at this altar, we do so asking, lord, that you would empower us for your hand. We pray all this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Pastor Celeste Brown: 26:44

We are so grateful that you were here today and what an amazing job the kids did, so if you see them, give them a high five. Let them know they were so precious. I just love seeing all of your kids, so thank you for letting them participate. It was amazing. I love it. And thank you again to all our children's workers. They are the church. Our kids are part of the church, just like anyone else, and so we're so grateful for those that instill the word of God in them at such a young age and train them up, and so we're grateful for that. As you head out, you'll see some candy canes out there. I hope you grab one and take one, and I just wanna let you know next Sunday we are having a family service, so everyone's gonna be in here together. It's gonna be a great time. You don't wanna miss it. It's also a wonderful opportunity for you to invite someone who has never been to church before, because it's just a great time when everybody's together in the house.

Pastor Jason Brown: 27:38

Amen. You know we talk about praying for you and we do often. We pray in staff together. We pray every day for you, those prayer requests that come in, pastor, it's brought to your attention. Thank you for praying for my uncle Gail. He went home yesterday After having his stroke last week, which is powerful, so we know the same thing has been happening. So many people just touched by the power of God. So we are praying for you. Let us know how we can pray with you before we go and replace blessing over us today. The Lord bless you and keep you. Lord, make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lifts up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Lord, I pray a blessing upon your church, your people. God, do you empower us by your spirit to live your love out to those around us. We pray all this in the powerful name that is Jesus Christ. Amen, amen. Know this. We love you very much here at Cornerstone. God bless you and Merry Christmas. God bless you and Merry Christmas.