WEBVTT

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 Good morning, church.

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 One of the wonderful things is that we have already sang much of my sermon.

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! We have already read much of my sermon.

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!

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 When trying to find a definition for peace, I noticed that the majority of dictionary mentions that it is an absence of conflict or freedom from disturbance.

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 And this is true, but as I was reading the scriptures, peace seemed to be more than just an absence of conflict.

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 And I love how a footnote in the ESV Study Bible puts it.

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 It says that the expression of peace had a much richer connotation.

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 It goes on to say that the English word does not convey, or the English word conveys merely just like an absence of peace,

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 but in the Hebrew, it actually displayed a positive notion of blessing, of joy.

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 And I think that this actually captures the idea of peace as seen in the Bible.

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 Not just an absence of conflict or anxiety, but a positive blessing.

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 And so there's also different aspects of peace.

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 There is an objective external peace, such as peace between nations, peace in relationships, and peace between God and man.

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 And that there is also an internal state of the heart that is at peace as well.

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 It is a feeling of rest and of well-being in the soul.

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 In our text today from Zechariah chapter 9, verses 9 through 10, so hopefully you've already found it,

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 it will touch on these aspects of peace, but we will primarily focus on peace between God and man and internal peace.

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 For you cannot have true internal peace of the soul without first having peace with God.

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 But why do we even need peace with God?

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 And this very question actually drives us back to the beginning,

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 when God created the world and placed Adam and Eve in a beautiful garden.

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 And in that garden, God walked with them and had perfect fellowship with them.

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 There was full satisfaction, joy, and delight.

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 There was peace between God and man, peace between Adam and Eve as husband and wife, and peace on all the earth.

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 There was no death, no painful labor, no shame or conflict.

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 As the Bible says, it was very good.

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 But when Satan deceived Adam and Eve, they sinned against God by partaking of the forbidden fruit and broke the perfect peace.

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 There was no longer joy in the presence of God, but guilt, shame, and fear.

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 Adam and Eve no longer had perfect harmony in their relationship with one another.

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 But they experienced for the first time shame, mistrust, blame shifting, and disunity.

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 Perfect peace was destroyed, and the relationship between God and man was shattered because of sin.

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 Sin is the venom that kills peace.

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 When man chose death over life, sin would forever inhabit every human to be born into the world minus one.

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 The seed of the woman who would crush the head of the serpent, as foreshadowed in Genesis 3.15.

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 Until then, sin would reign, not peace.

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 We see this as the Old Testament narrative unfolds.

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 We do not read stories of peace, but stories of conflict.

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 We see Israel's unfaithfulness in the midst of their faithful God.

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 And God, through his covenant, showed Israel how they might have peace in their community and with God,

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 if they would be careful to obey all that he has commanded.

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 But as we see over and over again, sin reigned in their hearts,

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 and they were unable to keep God's good commands.

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 Since the seed of sin was planted in all human hearts,

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 the fruit it bore was not peace, but conflict, pain, guilt, and enmity.

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 We can feel their hearts cry out,

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 When will there be a Redeemer, a true King who will bring peace?

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 And this leads up to the context of our passage today.

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 Israel was sent into Babylon as captives because of their sin against God and against one another by breaking his commands.

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 God then mercifully brings them out of captivity and directs the king of Persia to allow Israel to rebuild the temple.

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 The construction begins, but it is not at all like the old temple.

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 And opposition arose that stopped the building of the temple for 15 years after the foundation had already been laid.

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 And in the middle of this, there is a lot of pain and conflict and strife and difficulty.

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 And you can just hear the question launch forth,

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 When will the Edenic peace be restored again?

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 Amen.

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 And this is when the Lord sends the prophet Zechariah to encourage the people to press on in the work.

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 He encourages them by the good promises of the Lord that will one day come to pass.

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 One of these promises is of a coming righteous king.

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 So let us put ourselves in their shoes as we read today's passage from Zechariah chapter 9 verses 9 through 10.

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 Verse 9 starts off saying,

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 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion.

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 Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem.

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 Behold, your king is coming to you.

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 Righteous and having salvation is he.

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 Humble and mounted on a donkey.

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 On a colt, the foal of a donkey.

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 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem.

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 And the battle bow shall be cut off and he shall speak peace to the nations.

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 His rule shall be from sea to sea, from the river to the ends of the earth.

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 I like to call this a Palm Sunday Christmas passage that teaches us much about God's plan to bring peace to his people.

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 I will break up the text into two sections.

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 First, rejoice for Christ came to bring peace.

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 And second, rejoice for Christ will come to establish peace.

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 So to start off, rejoice for Christ came to bring peace.

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 Our passage starts off by calling the people of God to rejoice and shout aloud.

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 Then he goes on to tell us of the object of their rejoicing.

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 That is the object of their joy.

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 He says, behold, your king is coming to you.

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 Here is a promise of a king who is coming.

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 And this isn't the first prophecy either of the coming king.

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 Israel knew that he was coming and they were waiting for him.

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 A king like David, but without sin.

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 A seed of the woman who would crush the head of the serpent and bring peace.

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 But as a kid song from Shilin says,

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 Adam wasn't good enough.

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 Noah wasn't good enough.

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 Abram wasn't good enough.

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 And then he goes on through a list mentioning Isaac and Jacob and Joseph and Moses and Joshua, Samuel, David, Daniel, Jonah.

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 They weren't good enough.

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 And why were they not good enough?

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 Because none of them were perfectly righteous.

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 All of them had sin.

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 And as I said, sin is the venom that kills peace.

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 They weren't good enough.

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 But as Shilin goes on to say in his song, it's only Jesus.

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 It truly is only Jesus.

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 And this leads up to the next lines in Zechariah 9, chapter 9, verse 9, which talks about the character and the mission of this king.

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 It says, behold, your king is coming to you righteous and having salvation is he humble and mounted on a donkey on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

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 This verse shows us that the king is righteous and humble and bring salvation and that this salvation will result in peace.

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 Christ lived a perfect life in obedience to God.

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 One scene that illustrates this is when Jesus was in the wilderness being tempted by Satan.

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 Jesus did not sin, though he was tempted in the very same ways that Adam and Eve were tempted.

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 He resisted the devil by submitting to God's word.

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 He was perfectly righteous.

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 And thus, he was actually able to bring salvation.

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 We know that under the old covenant, Israel had to sacrifice a perfect and spotless lamb to atone for their sin.

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 Instead of God's wrath falling upon Israel, it would fall on a substitute in their place on an innocent lamb.

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 This system, though, did not sever the root and power of sin in the heart of man.

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 It did, however, foreshadow the truly perfect lamb.

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 Zachariah's prophecy begins with, behold, the king who is coming to you.

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 And John the Baptist, looking directly at this king, proclaims, behold, the lamb who takes away the sin of the world.

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 How did he take away the sin of the world?

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 He died as a perfect substitute in our place.

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 By taking the full wrath of God that you and I deserved.

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 Since Christ was perfect and truly God, the shedding of his blood was perfect and effective to atone for our sin.

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 Brothers and sisters, this is called penal substitutionary atonement.

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 Since he was perfectly righteous, he was able to bring salvation so that there is salvation and no one else.

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 For there is no other name given among men under heaven in which we might be saved.

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 Brothers and sisters, you are not good enough.

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 You cannot save yourself.

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 It is truly only Jesus.

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 And this is great cause for abundant joy.

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 So next from the passage, we see that the king is humble.

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 The king, this king, Jesus, did not come as the Jews expected.

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 They expected an extremely powerful and strong ruler.

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 A Messiah who would overthrow the Roman Empire by force and establish this kingdom on earth.

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 But no, the one who made the earth, the one who gave life and breath to all men, came to the earth as a little human baby born in a dirty stable.

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 Philippians 2, 5 through 8, as we read before the Lord's suppers, says, have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.

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 But he emptied himself by taking the form of a servant.

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 Being born in the likeness of men and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

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 And I love how a modern Christian hymn puts it when it says, how low was our Redeemer brought, the king who held the stars, lay helpless in a maiden's arms and pressed against her heart.

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 While sheep and cattle raised their voice, the babe could speak no words.

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 The ever-flowing spring of joy had come to share our thirst.

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 This is one of the beautiful things about the Christmas story.

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 Jesus came taking on human flesh.

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 He was Emmanuel, God with us.

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 And why is this so significant?

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 Because this humble king came to us.

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 In undeserving, unclean, and unholy people.

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 And invited us to come to him.

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 He says, come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

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 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.

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 For I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

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 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

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 Church, are you weak and burdened?

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 Then come to him.

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 Are you anxious about the weight of responsibility at your job, at your school, in your family?

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 Come to him.

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 Are you stressed out about finances, about the future, about marriage or your singleness, about your kids?

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 Then come to him.

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 Are you working hard to try to earn your salvation by being just good enough to weigh out your bad deeds?

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 Stop.

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 Stop.

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 You can't.

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 Stop and come to him.

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 He is humble and gentle and lowly.

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 And when he says, I will give you rest, this is another way of him saying, I will give you peace.

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 This leads me to the next point.

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 Christ came as our peacemaker.

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 The text says that the king is humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

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 Now, you see, kings during the time of war did not ride on donkeys.

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 They rode on war horses.

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 So the very fact that the king is coming on a donkey signifies that he is coming to bring peace.

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 Let's read the account of the triumphal entry when Jesus, in a very tangible way, fulfills the prophecy of Zechariah in Luke 19.

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 And we're going to start in verse 35 through 42.

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 So if you want to keep your hand in Zechariah and flip there, you're more than welcome.

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 Luke chapter 19.

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 And we're going to start in verse 35.

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 It says,

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 And they brought it, that is a donkey, to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.

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 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road.

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 And as he was drawing near, already on the way down the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying,

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 Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.

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 Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.

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 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, Teacher, rebuke your disciples.

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 He answered, I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.

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 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace.

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 But now they are hidden from your eyes.

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 This passage shows us in the crowd's proclamation of peace in heaven and glory in the highest that his coming was to bring peace.

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 Not only that, Jesus said that the things that truly make for peace are hidden from your eyes.

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 The following verses in this passage actually foretell of coming destruction.

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 What he is referencing was the peace he would bring through his death and resurrection was hidden from their eyes.

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 For many, though, the light of what was hidden was about to dawn.

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 But one may say, Did Jesus not tell us in Matthew 10, 34, Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth?

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 I did not come to bring peace but a sword.

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 And what I would say is, Yes, you are correct.

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 In Jesus's first advent, he did not come to establish peace on earth.

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 This will come in his second advent, as we will see in verse 10 of Zechariah 9.

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 So what kind of peace did he bring?

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 He came to bring peace between God and man.

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 Remember how we mentioned earlier that the peace was broken because of sin?

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 And sin is the venom that kills peace?

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 So Jesus came ultimately to bring peace by taking care of our sin against the holy God.

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 And you know that you are a sinful person and completely undeserving of the love and mercy of God.

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 I heard a preacher say this one time, and I think it's really helpful to help us realize,

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 Yeah, we know that we're sinful.

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 He said, For if I were able to take every sinful action you have ever done,

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 and every wicked thought you have ever had,

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 and I were able to put it up on this projector,

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 so that everyone here could see and watch,

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 you would run away ashamed, embarrassed,

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 because you know that you have said things you wouldn't want anyone to hear.

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 And you have done things that you wouldn't want anyone to see.

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 And you have thought things that you would be embarrassed if somebody knew about.

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 You know that you are sinful.

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 But more importantly, God knows it all.

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 And he sees it all.

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 You have broken his law.

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 And God, being perfectly holy and righteous and good,

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 cannot dwell with you and leave your sin unpunished.

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 You are not at peace with God,

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 but as the Bible describes it, you are an enemy of God.

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 He must punish your sin.

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 And the only appropriate punishment for your sin against the holy God

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 is an eternity in hell separated from him.

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 So how does the holy God dwell with sinners and yet still be holy?

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 God punished his only son in your place.

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 You see, Jesus Christ came into the world,

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 born as a human baby,

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 and lived a perfect life in obedience to God.

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 And as I mentioned earlier,

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 he was truly man and truly God,

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 fully righteous and holy.

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 And on the cross, Jesus took all the wrath of God that you deserved.

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 And he drank the cup of wrath and proclaimed,

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 it is finished.

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 He suffered and died in your place

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 so that if you believe in him

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 and what he has done on your behalf,

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 you can receive Christ's righteousness and eternal life.

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 Christ makes peace between God and man

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 by defeating your sin on the cross.

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 Then on the third day,

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 he rose from the dead,

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 showing that he alone has victory over sin and death.

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 He ascended into heaven

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 and is seated at the right hand of God,

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 making intercession for his people.

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 So if you have not believed in Christ alone for your salvation,

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 believe in this good news.

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 You can never do enough

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 to earn the favor of God

00:21:54.660 --> 00:21:57.840
 because you have sinned against a holy God.

00:21:59.500 --> 00:22:01.840
 But you can have peace with God

00:22:01.840 --> 00:22:05.059
 because King Jesus, our peacemaker, came.

00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:09.279
 And if you have believed in the gospel,

00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:12.779
 then as it says in verse 9 of Zechariah,

00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:13.460
 rejoice.

00:22:14.120 --> 00:22:15.819
 Rejoice that your king came

00:22:15.819 --> 00:22:18.299
 and never stray from the gospel.

00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:21.220
 Realize that it is because of the gospel

00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:22.919
 that you begin your Christian journey.

00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:25.079
 It is because of the gospel

00:22:25.079 --> 00:22:27.740
 that you endure and you stay the course.

00:22:27.919 --> 00:22:29.960
 And it will be because of the gospel

00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:32.460
 that you get to stand before the throne of God,

00:22:32.839 --> 00:22:35.339
 clothed in white in the righteousness of Christ,

00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:38.759
 giving him the honor and the glory

00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:40.940
 do his name.

00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:46.579
 So come to Jesus daily and rest in the peace that he offered

00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:49.200
 and walk in the peace that he gives,

00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:53.200
 knowing that Christ is currently in heaven interceding for you.

00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:56.819
 This should give us great joy.

00:22:57.420 --> 00:22:59.660
 We know that he will one day come again,

00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:02.480
 not on a donkey, but on a war horse.

00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:04.600
 There will be war,

00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:09.319
 but the end result of that war will be universal peace

00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:12.240
 because Christ will have the victory.

00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:14.799
 This leads us to the next section.

00:23:14.900 --> 00:23:16.019
 In the first section, we said,

00:23:16.380 --> 00:23:18.900
 rejoice for Christ came to bring peace.

00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:23.559
 And now we will look at verse 10 of Zechariah chapter 9,

00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:27.079
 which is rejoice for Christ will come

00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:29.880
 to establish peace.

00:23:30.359 --> 00:23:31.660
 And I use the word establish

00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:36.240
 because it means to set up on a firm or permanent basis.

00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:40.980
 Christ will one day come to establish universal peace

00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:43.539
 in the new heavens and new earth

00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:45.519
 where righteousness will dwell.

00:23:47.539 --> 00:23:50.259
 So verse 10 from our passage says,

00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:52.960
 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim

00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:55.500
 and the war horse from Jerusalem

00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:58.539
 and the battle bow shall be cut off

00:23:58.539 --> 00:24:01.200
 and he shall speak peace to the nations.

00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:04.140
 His rule shall be from sea to sea

00:24:04.140 --> 00:24:07.300
 and from the river to the ends of the earth.

00:24:08.280 --> 00:24:10.360
 Now in this passage, we see a time

00:24:10.360 --> 00:24:13.020
 when there will be no more war

00:24:13.020 --> 00:24:15.680
 and Christ's rule will be from sea to sea.

00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:19.220
 There will be peace among all the nations.

00:24:20.340 --> 00:24:22.960
 This is making reference to the final state of things

00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:24.700
 after Jesus' second coming.

00:24:25.420 --> 00:24:27.660
 Consider the vision of the new heaven and new earth

00:24:27.660 --> 00:24:30.540
 that John has in Revelation 21, 1 through 4

00:24:30.540 --> 00:24:31.240
 when he says,

00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:34.960
 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.

00:24:35.400 --> 00:24:37.240
 For the first heaven and the first earth

00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:40.460
 had passed away and the sea was no more.

00:24:41.120 --> 00:24:43.940
 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,

00:24:44.380 --> 00:24:46.519
 coming down out of heaven from God,

00:24:46.859 --> 00:24:49.680
 prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:52.660
 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:56.440
 Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.

00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:58.420
 He will dwell with them

00:24:58.420 --> 00:25:00.220
 and they will be his people

00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:04.420
 and God himself will be with them as their God.

00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:08.539
 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes

00:25:08.539 --> 00:25:10.480
 and death shall be no more.

00:25:11.340 --> 00:25:12.620
 Neither shall there be mourning,

00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:15.680
 nor crying, nor pain anymore.

00:25:15.940 --> 00:25:18.620
 For the former things have passed away.

00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:21.579
 And what a beautiful picture.

00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:24.879
 A new earth full of peace

00:25:24.879 --> 00:25:28.719
 where there is no more crying, mourning, pain, or death.

00:25:29.079 --> 00:25:29.619
 And why?

00:25:30.399 --> 00:25:33.659
 Because the venom of sin that kills peace

00:25:33.659 --> 00:25:36.399
 will be no more.

00:25:37.399 --> 00:25:41.399
 The nasty head of that ancient serpent

00:25:41.399 --> 00:25:44.539
 will be crushed once and for all.

00:25:44.539 --> 00:25:47.960
 And the people of God will be fully clothed

00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:50.379
 in the righteousness of God

00:25:50.379 --> 00:25:53.200
 without a trace of sin.

00:25:54.339 --> 00:25:55.279
 Praise the Lord.

00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:57.839
 I cannot wait for this day.

00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:01.920
 So in Zechariah chapter 9, verse 10,

00:26:02.420 --> 00:26:06.720
 we can see an already but not yet state in this passage.

00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:08.940
 There is a partial fulfillment

00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:12.180
 of the ceasing of these physical weapons of warfare

00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:14.259
 and the speaking of peace to the nations

00:26:14.259 --> 00:26:16.279
 and his rule being from sea to sea

00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:19.299
 that will one day be fully consummated

00:26:19.299 --> 00:26:21.320
 at Christ's second coming.

00:26:22.279 --> 00:26:24.160
 You see, the kingdom of God advances

00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:26.100
 not based on military might

00:26:26.100 --> 00:26:28.980
 from weapons, physical weapons of warfare,

00:26:29.140 --> 00:26:33.140
 but it advances on the proclamation of the gospel.

00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:36.200
 It advances by the power of God

00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:38.740
 in weak human vessels.

00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:42.019
 Our warfare is no longer physical,

00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:43.140
 but it is spiritual.

00:26:44.059 --> 00:26:45.779
 So in a way, he has cut off

00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:47.400
 the physical instruments of warfare,

00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:49.640
 but war still exists

00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:53.019
 and will exist until Christ returns

00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:55.599
 and the final battle is done.

00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:58.220
 And in the second part of the verse,

00:26:58.380 --> 00:27:01.559
 it says he shall speak peace to the nations.

00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:04.339
 This is currently happening.

00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:07.480
 How does he speak peace to the nations?

00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:12.819
 He speaks to the nations through us,

00:27:13.360 --> 00:27:14.360
 his church,

00:27:14.360 --> 00:27:17.240
 as we go out and take the gospel

00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:18.500
 to our neighbors,

00:27:19.579 --> 00:27:20.539
 our coworkers,

00:27:21.140 --> 00:27:21.860
 our cities,

00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:23.319
 our country,

00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:25.960
 and to the far ends of the world

00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:29.160
 to those who have never even heard

00:27:29.160 --> 00:27:31.880
 of how they might have peace with God.

00:27:31.880 --> 00:27:36.820
 This is why Jesus says in Matthew 28,

00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:37.860
 18 through 20,

00:27:38.340 --> 00:27:39.700
 all authority in heaven and earth

00:27:39.700 --> 00:27:40.900
 has been given to me.

00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:43.860
 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,

00:27:44.380 --> 00:27:46.100
 baptizing them in the name of the Father

00:27:46.100 --> 00:27:48.260
 and of the Son and the Holy Spirit,

00:27:48.660 --> 00:27:49.660
 teaching them to observe

00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:51.100
 all that I have commanded you.

00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:52.100
 And behold,

00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:53.380
 I am with you always

00:27:53.380 --> 00:27:55.940
 to the end of the age.

00:27:56.800 --> 00:27:57.740
 Brothers and sisters,

00:27:57.740 --> 00:27:59.880
 it is through you

00:27:59.880 --> 00:28:02.240
 that Christ is proclaiming peace

00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:03.000
 to the nations.

00:28:04.120 --> 00:28:05.920
 And the reason that all the nations

00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:07.480
 will be gathered before the throne

00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:08.480
 of God

00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:10.920
 is because someone who knew the gospel

00:28:10.920 --> 00:28:13.180
 proclaimed the gospel to them.

00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:14.960
 And through their proclamation,

00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:17.000
 the Holy Spirit worked

00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:17.920
 in their heart

00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:18.759
 to bring them

00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:20.500
 from death to life.

00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:22.220
 Then one day,

00:28:22.940 --> 00:28:24.420
 this beautiful scene

00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:25.119
 in Revelation

00:28:25.119 --> 00:28:26.880
 will be fulfilled

00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:27.880
 when John says,

00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:28.819
 after this,

00:28:30.579 --> 00:28:32.140
 I looked and behold

00:28:32.140 --> 00:28:33.720
 a great multitude

00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:35.180
 that no one could number

00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:36.480
 from every nation,

00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:38.059
 from all tribes

00:28:38.059 --> 00:28:39.279
 and people

00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:40.339
 and languages

00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:42.740
 standing before the throne of God

00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:44.420
 and before the Lamb

00:28:44.420 --> 00:28:48.720
 clothed in white robes

00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:50.339
 with palm branches in their hands

00:28:50.339 --> 00:28:51.619
 and crying out

00:28:51.619 --> 00:28:52.679
 with a loud voice,

00:28:53.099 --> 00:28:54.459
 Salvation belongs

00:28:54.459 --> 00:28:55.259
 to our God

00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:56.439
 who sits on the throne

00:28:56.439 --> 00:28:58.399
 and to the Lamb.

00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:01.319
 Brothers and sisters,

00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.859
 Christmas is not about

00:29:02.859 --> 00:29:03.599
 the gifts,

00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:05.199
 the food,

00:29:05.439 --> 00:29:06.559
 the decorations.

00:29:07.079 --> 00:29:08.699
 It's not even about your family.

00:29:09.619 --> 00:29:10.839
 These are wonderful things

00:29:10.839 --> 00:29:11.720
 the Lord has given us,

00:29:11.879 --> 00:29:14.240
 but Christmas is about rejoicing

00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:15.919
 that Jesus Christ

00:29:15.919 --> 00:29:17.500
 came into the world.

00:29:17.619 --> 00:29:19.559
 And as the angel

00:29:19.559 --> 00:29:20.299
 with a multitude

00:29:20.299 --> 00:29:21.059
 of heavenly hosts

00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:22.899
 proclaimed in the Christmas story,

00:29:23.419 --> 00:29:24.879
 glory to God

00:29:24.879 --> 00:29:25.740
 in the highest

00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:27.179
 and on earth,

00:29:27.399 --> 00:29:29.039
 peace among those

00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:30.619
 with whom he is pleased.

00:29:31.559 --> 00:29:32.879
 I would like to leave you

00:29:32.879 --> 00:29:33.379
 this morning

00:29:33.379 --> 00:29:35.679
 with these final applications.

00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:37.679
 One,

00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:39.339
 because Christ came

00:29:39.339 --> 00:29:40.240
 to bring peace,

00:29:40.339 --> 00:29:42.079
 we should rejoice

00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:43.519
 and be glad.

00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:45.480
 We should continually

00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:46.279
 praise God

00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:46.839
 for the work

00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:47.980
 that Christ has done.

00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:49.199
 Every day,

00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:49.919
 we should delight

00:29:49.919 --> 00:29:50.559
 in the gospel.

00:29:50.559 --> 00:29:51.619
 And this is why,

00:29:51.959 --> 00:29:52.379
 as a church,

00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:54.319
 we sing the gospel,

00:29:54.819 --> 00:29:56.240
 we pray the gospel,

00:29:56.699 --> 00:29:58.259
 we preach the gospel,

00:29:58.720 --> 00:29:59.579
 and together,

00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:00.419
 we delight

00:30:00.419 --> 00:30:01.579
 in the gospel.

00:30:02.639 --> 00:30:03.279
 Second,

00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:04.480
 because Christ came

00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:05.659
 to bring peace,

00:30:05.740 --> 00:30:06.939
 we should also strive

00:30:06.939 --> 00:30:07.579
 for peace

00:30:07.579 --> 00:30:08.359
 with one another.

00:30:09.419 --> 00:30:11.599
 This will not be easy,

00:30:11.799 --> 00:30:13.039
 but it is necessary.

00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:14.960
 It will take forgiving

00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:17.319
 and asking for forgiveness.

00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:19.740
 But in as much as we can,

00:30:20.059 --> 00:30:20.619
 we are called

00:30:20.619 --> 00:30:21.879
 to strive for peace

00:30:21.879 --> 00:30:23.099
 and live peaceably.

00:30:24.159 --> 00:30:24.639
 Third,

00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:25.980
 and because Christ

00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:27.399
 came to bring peace,

00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:28.539
 we should walk

00:30:28.539 --> 00:30:29.639
 in peace now

00:30:29.639 --> 00:30:31.940
 and not be anxious

00:30:31.940 --> 00:30:33.619
 by praying.

00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:35.779
 Philippians 4, 6 says,

00:30:35.879 --> 00:30:36.599
 Do not be anxious

00:30:36.599 --> 00:30:37.399
 about anything,

00:30:37.639 --> 00:30:38.539
 but in everything

00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:39.920
 by prayer and supplication,

00:30:40.359 --> 00:30:41.259
 with thanksgiving,

00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:42.160
 let your request

00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:43.539
 be made known to God

00:30:43.539 --> 00:30:45.480
 and the peace of God,

00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:46.619
 which surpasses

00:30:46.619 --> 00:30:47.980
 all understanding,

00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:49.879
 will guard your hearts

00:30:49.879 --> 00:30:50.960
 and minds

00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:52.180
 in Christ Jesus.

00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:55.579
 It will not make sense

00:30:55.579 --> 00:30:56.680
 to the world

00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:58.099
 how you can have

00:30:58.099 --> 00:30:59.440
 such peace

00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:00.619
 in the midst

00:31:00.619 --> 00:31:02.420
 of such trials.

00:31:03.079 --> 00:31:04.319
 How can you have

00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:05.079
 such peace

00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:06.359
 at the loss

00:31:06.359 --> 00:31:07.700
 of your job,

00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:09.720
 the loss of a child,

00:31:09.720 --> 00:31:13.339
 or a family member?

00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:16.180
 How can you have peace

00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:17.680
 with the mistreatment

00:31:17.680 --> 00:31:18.400
 of friends

00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:20.240
 or loved ones,

00:31:20.360 --> 00:31:21.799
 the social isolation

00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:24.579
 and rejection?

00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:28.180
 How can you have peace

00:31:28.180 --> 00:31:29.700
 in the midst of those?

00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:31.880
 It's because you have peace

00:31:31.880 --> 00:31:32.440
 with God,

00:31:32.579 --> 00:31:33.200
 brother and sister.

00:31:34.059 --> 00:31:34.539
 And guess what?

00:31:34.620 --> 00:31:36.039
 You have access to Him

00:31:36.039 --> 00:31:37.360
 because of that peace.

00:31:37.359 --> 00:31:38.319
 Therefore,

00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:39.439
 you can cast

00:31:39.439 --> 00:31:40.859
 all your anxieties

00:31:40.859 --> 00:31:42.919
 on Him

00:31:42.919 --> 00:31:45.019
 because He cares

00:31:45.019 --> 00:31:45.639
 for you.

00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:50.219
 And last in this section,

00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:50.959
 and you can walk

00:31:50.959 --> 00:31:51.839
 in peace now

00:31:51.839 --> 00:31:53.159
 by trusting

00:31:53.159 --> 00:31:54.579
 in your good God.

00:31:55.139 --> 00:31:56.059
 Romans 8, 28

00:31:56.059 --> 00:31:56.699
 says,

00:31:56.700 --> 00:31:58.059
 And we know

00:31:58.059 --> 00:31:58.799
 that for those

00:31:58.799 --> 00:31:59.500
 who love God,

00:31:59.600 --> 00:32:00.759
 all things work together

00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:01.420
 for good.

00:32:01.660 --> 00:32:03.019
 For those who are called

00:32:03.019 --> 00:32:04.380
 according to His purpose,

00:32:04.900 --> 00:32:06.279
 know that if you are

00:32:06.279 --> 00:32:07.000
 a believer,

00:32:08.180 --> 00:32:09.759
 all circumstances,

00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:11.980
 even the most painful

00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:15.299
 and unimaginable ones,

00:32:16.200 --> 00:32:17.779
 God is working together

00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:18.860
 for your good

00:32:18.860 --> 00:32:21.120
 and His glory.

00:32:21.119 --> 00:32:23.459
 you can trust

00:32:23.459 --> 00:32:26.139
 in His sovereign hands.

00:32:27.819 --> 00:32:29.159
 John G. Payton,

00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:30.399
 a missionary

00:32:30.399 --> 00:32:31.739
 to a cannibal tribe,

00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:34.199
 after suffering greatly,

00:32:35.299 --> 00:32:36.259
 he said these words

00:32:36.259 --> 00:32:37.039
 that have encouraged

00:32:37.039 --> 00:32:37.759
 me greatly.

00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:38.679
 He said,

00:32:39.099 --> 00:32:40.899
 Feeling immovably assured

00:32:40.899 --> 00:32:42.699
 that my God and Father

00:32:42.699 --> 00:32:44.299
 was too wise

00:32:44.299 --> 00:32:45.839
 and too loving

00:32:45.839 --> 00:32:47.259
 to err

00:32:47.259 --> 00:32:48.239
 in anything

00:32:48.239 --> 00:32:49.039
 that He does

00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:49.779
 or permits.

00:32:49.779 --> 00:32:51.639
 I looked up

00:32:51.639 --> 00:32:52.279
 to the Lord

00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:54.500
 and I pressed on

00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:55.599
 and struggled

00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:56.559
 in His work.

00:32:57.639 --> 00:32:58.319
 I love that.

00:32:58.420 --> 00:32:58.980
 Brother and sister,

00:32:59.779 --> 00:33:01.079
 our Father

00:33:01.079 --> 00:33:02.960
 is too wise

00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:04.299
 and too loving

00:33:04.299 --> 00:33:06.079
 to make mistakes.

00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:07.879
 Therefore,

00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:09.259
 you can walk

00:33:09.259 --> 00:33:09.920
 in peace

00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:10.779
 knowing

00:33:10.779 --> 00:33:11.819
 that He

00:33:11.819 --> 00:33:12.480
 who holds

00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:13.240
 the stars

00:33:13.240 --> 00:33:14.639
 cares for you.

00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:17.579
 And secondly,

00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:18.500
 because Christ

00:33:18.500 --> 00:33:19.039
 will come

00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:20.159
 to establish peace,

00:33:20.639 --> 00:33:21.960
 we should have hope.

00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:23.899
 We know

00:33:23.899 --> 00:33:24.480
 that this world

00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:25.000
 is broken,

00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:26.200
 that there will not

00:33:26.200 --> 00:33:27.259
 be ultimate peace

00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:28.460
 until Christ returns.

00:33:29.019 --> 00:33:30.519
 But we have much hope

00:33:30.519 --> 00:33:31.379
 and therefore

00:33:31.379 --> 00:33:32.579
 have much peace

00:33:32.579 --> 00:33:33.720
 because we know

00:33:33.720 --> 00:33:34.319
 this world

00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:36.180
 is not our home.

00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:38.619
 We are just pilgrims

00:33:38.619 --> 00:33:39.579
 passing through

00:33:39.579 --> 00:33:40.819
 headed to our

00:33:40.819 --> 00:33:41.639
 heavenly home

00:33:41.639 --> 00:33:44.159
 where Christ is,

00:33:44.579 --> 00:33:45.399
 where there will be

00:33:45.399 --> 00:33:47.039
 perfect peace

00:33:47.039 --> 00:33:48.859
 and perfect joy.

00:33:49.720 --> 00:33:50.879
 We look back

00:33:50.879 --> 00:33:51.879
 to the work

00:33:51.879 --> 00:33:52.740
 that Christ has done,

00:33:52.899 --> 00:33:54.379
 but we also look forward

00:33:54.379 --> 00:33:55.259
 to the work

00:33:55.259 --> 00:33:56.420
 that Christ will do.

00:33:56.920 --> 00:33:57.639
 We long

00:33:57.639 --> 00:33:58.359
 for the day,

00:33:59.159 --> 00:34:00.240
 but while

00:34:00.240 --> 00:34:00.819
 He is still

00:34:00.819 --> 00:34:01.440
 given breath

00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:02.319
 in our lungs,

00:34:02.819 --> 00:34:04.680
 let us press on

00:34:04.680 --> 00:34:05.259
 to accomplish

00:34:05.259 --> 00:34:05.700
 the work

00:34:05.700 --> 00:34:06.379
 that He has laid

00:34:06.379 --> 00:34:06.899
 before us

00:34:06.899 --> 00:34:07.659
 each day.

00:34:08.279 --> 00:34:09.159
 And this leads me

00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:09.840
 to my last

00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:10.920
 application.

00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:12.740
 because Christ

00:34:12.740 --> 00:34:13.260
 will come

00:34:13.260 --> 00:34:14.000
 to establish

00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:14.940
 peace,

00:34:15.139 --> 00:34:16.760
 we should share

00:34:16.760 --> 00:34:17.440
 this gospel

00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:18.000
 of peace.

00:34:18.840 --> 00:34:20.059
 There is a broken

00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:21.579
 world of people

00:34:21.579 --> 00:34:22.880
 dying each day

00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:23.780
 without having

00:34:23.780 --> 00:34:25.360
 ever heard

00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:26.380
 the gospel

00:34:26.380 --> 00:34:27.240
 of peace.

00:34:28.099 --> 00:34:29.000
 Maybe no one

00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:29.920
 has ever told them,

00:34:30.099 --> 00:34:31.500
 or maybe the only

00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:32.139
 thing that they

00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:32.880
 have ever heard

00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:34.200
 was a false gospel,

00:34:35.300 --> 00:34:36.380
 a gospel of health

00:34:36.380 --> 00:34:37.059
 and wealth

00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:38.280
 and prosperity,

00:34:38.280 --> 00:34:39.840
 a gospel

00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:42.240
 of self-exaltation.

00:34:43.060 --> 00:34:44.700
 No matter the case,

00:34:45.260 --> 00:34:47.500
 let's be faithful

00:34:47.500 --> 00:34:48.000
 to share

00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:48.540
 the gospel

00:34:48.540 --> 00:34:49.200
 of peace

00:34:49.200 --> 00:34:50.420
 of how

00:34:50.420 --> 00:34:51.540
 an unrighteous,

00:34:52.180 --> 00:34:52.780
 unholy,

00:34:53.240 --> 00:34:54.100
 and unclean

00:34:54.100 --> 00:34:54.580
 people

00:34:54.580 --> 00:34:56.960
 can be reconciled

00:34:56.960 --> 00:34:58.040
 to a good

00:34:58.040 --> 00:34:59.040
 and holy

00:34:59.040 --> 00:34:59.840
 God.

00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:02.260
 Be a faithful

00:35:02.260 --> 00:35:02.740
 witness

00:35:02.740 --> 00:35:03.700
 that Christ

00:35:03.700 --> 00:35:04.400
 may be known

00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:05.420
 not only

00:35:05.420 --> 00:35:06.380
 in our community,

00:35:06.860 --> 00:35:07.800
 but also

00:35:07.800 --> 00:35:09.140
 among the nations.

00:35:10.160 --> 00:35:10.880
 Brothers and sisters,

00:35:11.080 --> 00:35:11.580
 rejoice

00:35:11.580 --> 00:35:12.519
 for Christ

00:35:12.519 --> 00:35:13.000
 came

00:35:13.000 --> 00:35:14.039
 to bring

00:35:14.039 --> 00:35:14.760
 peace

00:35:14.760 --> 00:35:17.519
 and rejoice

00:35:17.519 --> 00:35:19.060
 for Christ

00:35:19.060 --> 00:35:20.140
 will come

00:35:20.140 --> 00:35:20.700
 one day

00:35:20.700 --> 00:35:22.240
 to finally

00:35:22.240 --> 00:35:22.940
 establish

00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:23.680
 peace.

00:35:25.420 --> 00:35:26.780
 May these truths

00:35:26.780 --> 00:35:27.660
 ring in your heart

00:35:27.660 --> 00:35:28.220
 throughout this

00:35:28.220 --> 00:35:28.920
 Christmas season

00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:30.000
 as you celebrate

00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:30.680
 the advent

00:35:30.680 --> 00:35:31.820
 of our King

00:35:31.820 --> 00:35:32.860
 Jesus.

00:35:33.560 --> 00:35:34.200
 Let's pray.

00:35:34.200 --> 00:35:34.260
 Amen.

00:35:34.260 --> 00:35:34.260


00:35:34.260 --> 00:35:34.260


00:35:34.260 --> 00:35:34.260