As we light the second candle of Advent we are discussing finding peace in the chaos.
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Watch the video of this teaching at https://www.celllifechurch.tv/finding-peace-in-the-chaos/ or on our YouTube channel.
This is the season of the year when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The Church has traditionally celebrated each Sunday in December leading up to Christmas Day by teaching and contemplating on four of the main themes that Jesus brought to us. These things are hope, peace, joy, and love.
Each week we will be talking about one of these topics leading up to Christmas when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. We also light a candle each Sunday. You will see that we have the first and second candles lit. This week’s candle is for peace and leads us to today’s encouraging message, finding peace in the chaos.
We have shared about finding peace in this world many times before. This week as we learn about peace from the Bible as it relates to the first advent of Christ we will discuss Jesus as the Prince of Peace, peace beyond understanding, and cultivating an inner peace in our hearts.
The peace we are talking about today is not the absence of war. We would like to see the end of all war in this world, but we know from scripture that until Jesus returns this world will be plagued with war. This is because the sinful nature of mankind is self-centered and one of the devil’s favorite tools is conflict.
The peace Jesus brings is an inner peace that surpasses all understanding. Let’s start by discussing Jesus as the Prince of Peace.
There are hundreds of prophecies in the Old Testament that point to the coming Messiah. The prophet Isaiah shares many of them and Isaiah 9:6 is a very familiar verse that is read often as we enter the Christmas season. Let’s read Isaiah 9:6.
(6) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah was prophesying about the coming Messiah and he called him Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
It is Jesus that will bring peace to this world. Without Jesus, there can be no peace. Without Jesus there will continue to be wars, crime, and self-centered people taking advantage of others. There can be no peace without the Prince of Peace.
Isaiah describes what life will be like when the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, ushers in His peace in this world. We read it in Isaiah 11:6-9.
(6) The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. (7) The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. (8) The infant will play near the cobra's den, the young child will put its hand into the viper's nest. (9) They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
Many people have good intentions and try to force others to abide by rules and laws to help prevent wars and crime, but there will always be people whom the devil has control over and who will bring chaos. They will bring war, crime, and selfishness to the forefront.
You can have peace in the chaos of this world once you say yes to Jesus’ call and have Christ in your heart. The peace that comes from being a follower of Jesus Christ is a peace that surpasses all understanding.
The peace that Jesus brings often confuses and confounds those who do not know or follow Jesus. Christians can know this peace and feel it in their heart even though we do not see it in the world today. The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 5:1:
(1) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
We may not understand the peace of Christ, and the world certainly doesn’t understand the peace of Christ, but we can feel it in our hearts. This is because through the forgiveness of Christ, we have been reconciled back to God the Father, our Creator, and He can set our hearts at ease.
The peace that Jesus brings shields us from the ways of the world. It is a shield around our minds and a fortress for our hearts. We read in Philippians 4:7:
(7) And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The original term Paul used, “will guard”, is a military term that meant to be protected by a military guard. This is what the peace of Christ does for our minds and hearts. Our mind is a battlefield. The devil uses everything he can in this world to pollute and corrupt our minds. In this way, the peace of Christ takes up battle in our minds to regain and maintain godly order there.
Our heart is the place where Jesus resides in us and must be protected at all costs and the peace we receive from Christ is a shield around our heart keeping it safe.
This peace can only come from the Prine of Peace, Jesus Christ. It often does not make sense how people can stay calm and face the unthinkable in this world, but they can have peace in the chaos of this world. You must cultivate this peace in the chaos to live a victorious life in Christ.
A victorious life in this world can only be lived with Jesus in our hearts and maintaining our focus on him. Jesus tells us in John 10:10
(10) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Some translations say, that they may have life more abundantly. Jesus came so that we can live a victorious abundant life. We must accept his free gift of salvation to experience this abundant life. An abundant victorious life is built on some practical things we can do as we focus on Jesus.
One of the ways to focus on Jesus is to spend some quiet time with Jesus during this Advent season. Last week we spoke about reading a chapter of the gospel of Luke each day. Contemplate and meditate on what you have read in Luke and other passages of the Bible.
Another thing to do is practice stillness. Take a break each day and put down your phone, turn off the radio and television, close your computer, and think about the great things happening in your life at that moment. Be mindful of the positive things in your life. Show an act of kindness to someone, even when they do not deserve it. Be grateful for what you have and the calling God has on your life.
The more we focus on Jesus the easier these things become and the better our outlook on this life will be. We will have found peace in the chaos of this world.
As we continue to celebrate the first advent of Christ, the birth of Jesus, during this season, let’s not forget the Blessed Hope. We know Christ will return and call us all home. We can find peace in the chaos of this world between now and then.
We must focus on Jesus, spend time in the Bible and prayer, practice stillness, and be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to those around us. The peace Jesus brings us will protect us and guide us as we live in peace amidst the chaos of this world.
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