Now, while you're getting there, I want to prepare us a little bit for what we're going to be studying this morning.
And I believe that over the last week, if we think about it, the last month maybe, or even the last year probably for all of us,
we can think of times when we have struggled with worry, when we have struggled with anxiety,
when we've struggled with feeling overwhelmed.
I know that from talking to many of us and knowing myself that many of us can often struggle with the feeling that we can never do enough at our jobs,
for our families, or even that we can never do enough work for the kingdom.
Others of us struggle with the feeling that we can never measure up to the work that others are doing.
Many of us set really, really high goals for ourselves, and then we're so, so, so frustrated with ourselves
when we see the great distance between where we're at and the goals that we've set.
I've been in all those places.
I've seen the reality of reaching the end of my power in almost everything.
I've fully exhausted the end of what I can do and failed to acknowledge or accept the Lord's help.
And that's when we run to that worry, that anxiety, that avoidance.
I ran to everything I could to get rid of that weight that can just be weighing down on us so much.
And I think if we all think about it, I think if we're honest, we all hit those points.
We've been there, and sometimes that may just be a mindset struggle,
or other times it may flow out in our actions and be very apparent.
But I'm up here this morning to preach about peace.
So why am I starting with all of this anxiety, this worry, these ideas about work?
Because those tend to be the opposites of peace.
We often run to those and away from the peace that the Lord has provided through his birth, life, death, and resurrection.
It's what we so often run to.
So just a quick story.
So almost three years ago.
I know the exact date.
It was March 14, 2016.
I know that because it's the oldest note I have in my current phone.
I was sitting on the back porch of what y'all call the refuge where Matthew and Alex and Ian and Spencer live.
I was talking to Clay.
Back then, I was in his discipleship group.
And he had had us listen to a sermon that is called Work and Rest.
It's by Tim Keller.
It's a really good sermon that has done me a lot of good in going back and listening to it quite a few times since then.
I'd really recommend that if you struggle with prioritizing work and rest.
And in his sermon, he talks about the modern culture and how in many ways, many of us have become workaholics in a way that has never been seen before.
He explains that because many of us can work from anywhere, we do work from anywhere and work from everywhere and often do that all the time.
We struggle to find true rest.
Many of us, I know that I personally get called out for this a lot, constantly have a productivity mindset.
If something doesn't seem immediately productive, we're not going to do it.
I think a lot of us struggle with that.
And rest is one of those things that doesn't seem immediately productive.
Those that are really close to me have had to call me out to remind me that the Lord has called us to a life that needs some rest, needs some Sabbath, needs some peace.
After all, we're not God.
We're simply laborers in the Lord.
We're not our own lords, but so, so, so often we try to be.
So often.
In Keller's sermon, I'll borrow a few things he says.
He gives three ways in which we often try to constantly work.
He asserts that we constantly feel this pressure to prove ourselves in three different ways.
Firstly, he says that we feel the need to prove ourselves to God.
We feel the need to prove ourselves to God.
Secondly, we feel the need to prove ourselves to ourselves.
And thirdly, that we feel the need to prove ourselves to others.
So going back to that day in March of 2016, as Clay and I were talking on the back porch,
I really began to think about those three.
And realized that I had put so much effort into one of those for sure, and oftentimes all three of those.
And that's so dangerous.
Being in a constant state of trying to prove ourselves and feeling this weight that we're not good enough,
either for God, for ourselves, or for others,
takes us so far away from that hope, that joy, that peace that are found in the gospel of Christ.
Now these realities, I think, can come in the forms that we often think of them in.
I think what comes to my mind when I think about proving ourselves to God
is the view that pretty much all of the world that does not trust in Christ,
is their only hope, has that if we do enough good things or we avoid enough bad things,
that we're good.
We'll have whatever afterlife we imagine.
We'll be set.
When we think about proving ourselves to ourselves,
I think many of us have the idea that we need to have as good of a house,
as good of a car, as raise our family well,
at least as well as our parents did,
hold down a good career.
When we think about proving ourselves to others,
I think we think of some of the same things.
doing lots of good things,
having lots of worldly possessions,
doing every possible activity that we can.
And all that's just to impress other people.
All of that.
Now all those are very, very dangerous,
and I don't want to deny that in one bit,
because they show a heart that is either not currently set on the gospel
or has never put its hope in the gospel.
But I know that for myself and for many of the rest of us,
there's some very much more subtle ways that we start believing these,
and because of how subtle they are,
I think they can be possibly even more dangerous.
Thinking about trying to prove ourselves to God
and doing every possible ministry opportunity
and never saying no.
Being a part of way too many campus ministries
to the detriment of commitments to each one
and to the church
and to all the other legitimately important things in life as well.
Or hanging about proving ourselves to God
and taking pride in these long stretches of avoiding sin
and boasting that we haven't struggled with something in a really long time.
And then when we do sin,
being utterly defeated when we slip up,
and that shows we've been putting our confidence in our own good works
instead of the finished work of Christ.
I've also found myself in the state of wanting to prove myself to myself
and being completely unwilling to participate in something like a leisure activity
because it doesn't seem productive.
Running away from opportunities to be with the community
because we feel that we are too busy
and thinking that everything must be directly productive.
And treating ourselves as if we have all the power in the world
and so we can be involved in everything there is that is good.
And then I think even worse of trying to prove ourselves to others
and wanting people to realize how busy we are
or wanting to do service that is in the spotlight
but being unwilling to do something that's behind the scenes.
I think I could go on and on all morning
but I don't think I need to.
I'm aware that many of those overlap
and I want to communicate those realities for a number of reasons
not the least of which being that I want to apologize
to any of you who have been hurt by my own sinful tendencies
to want to prove myself.
I also believe that if we're honest
we all struggle in some way
of feeling the need to prove ourselves.
And any of those start to rely on our own works
and not putting our hope
and joy
and ultimately having peace
in the finished work of Christ.
Okay.
So I'm here to talk about peace.
So let's get to it.
So Luke 2.
Luke 2.
So this is a very, very, very familiar Christmas passage.
If I'm not careful in my reading of it
I'm going to switch half the words to KJV
because I remember men in my family's church reading it so often.
Because of those kind of realities
I'd really like to encourage you not to just check out.
Don't think you've heard this passage 80 times
and so you don't need to listen.
Brothers and sisters, as Nathan faithfully reminds us
this is the word of God.
It was written for the Lord's glory and for our good.
It will be good for us this morning to listen to it
in order to believe its promises
and obey its commands.
So verse 1 of Luke 2.
So as in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
that all the world should be registered.
This was the first registration
when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
And all went to be registered
each to his own town.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee
from the town of Nazareth
to Judea
to the city of David
which is called Bethlehem
because he was of the house
and lineage of David
to be registered with Mary
his betrothed
who is with child.
And while they were there
the time came for her to give birth
and she gave birth to her firstborn son
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes
and laid him in a manger
because there was no place for them
in the inn.
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.
For unto you is born this day
in the city of David
a Savior
who is Christ the Lord.
And this will be a sign to you
for you will find a baby
wrapped in swaddling clothes
and lying in a manger.
And suddenly
there was with the angel
a multitude of heavenly hosts
praising God and saying
Glory to God in the highest
and on earth
peace among those
with whom he is pleased.
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.
And they went with haste
and found Mary and Joseph
and the baby
lying in a manger.
And when they saw it
they made known the saying
that had been told them
concerning this child.
And all who heard it
wondered what the shepherds told them.
But Mary treasured up
all these things
pondering them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen
as it had been told them.
And at the end of eight days
when he was circumcised
he was called Jesus
the name given by the angel
before he was conceived
in the womb.
Let's pray.
Lord this morning
I just ask that you would
teach us about your peace.
Let us not go away from here
struggling with the anxiety
and the worry
that we so often
try to hold on to Lord.
Help us learn from your word.
Guard my tongue
from saying anything
false.
Let anything fall
on deaf ears
that is untrue Lord
and truly teach us
from your word this morning.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
So
I'll be
very honest
and say
I had a very difficult time
deciding on my main text
for this morning.
Very, very difficult.
There are many
passages
about
the peace of God.
The peace we have
with God
through Christ.
The peace we have
within our souls
because of being
accepted in Christ
and the peace we can share
with others
because of who we are
now in Christ.
But I really struggled
to decide which one
would be most beneficial.
So after a lot of thought
and prayer
and confidence
that all scripture
is beneficial
for teaching,
correction,
reproof,
training in righteousness
I landed here
and we'll also hit
a lot of the other passages.
So before we talk
about this text
I want to give you
a little bit
of the structure
for the forward heading.
So I'm going to use
a heading
and there will be
three sub points
within that.
So our heading is
How Our Saviors
Birth, Life, Death,
and Resurrection.
That's How Our Saviors
Birth, Life, Death,
and Resurrection.
The three points
under that
will be
firstly
brings us peace
with God.
Brings us peace
with God.
Secondly
brings us peace
with ourselves.
And thirdly
brings us peace
with others.
So,
we're going to start
with how our
Savior's birth,
life, death,
and resurrection
brings us peace
with God.
So here in this text
we hear the very
familiar story
of our Savior's birth.
We see Mary and Joseph
have traveled to the town
of Bethlehem
to be registered
or taxed
and while they're
on this journey
it came time
for Jesus to be born.
When he was born
he was laid in a manger
there was no room
for them in the inn.
And we hear a little bit
about the perspective
of some other people.
So some shepherds
who were doing
their thing
they were just
watching their flocks
like they typically do
and suddenly
an angel
appeared to them
told them
of good news
of great joy
something that would
be good for all
people it says.
The angel told them
that that day
a Savior
had been born
who's called
Christ the Lord
the long expected
Jesus.
The angel then
tells the shepherds
how they're going
to find him
and as the angel
is finishing
giving the spill
about Jesus
suddenly there's
a ton of angels
and they're so excited
they say glory to God
in the highest
and on earth
peace among those
with whom he is pleased.
So this birth
ushers in
great glory to the Lord
great excitement
as they say
peace among those
with whom he is pleased.
Seems like a pretty
significant event
for that to happen.
I mean angels
have come proclaiming
glory to God
in the highest
but then I go
and see this
child born
and nothing
seems overly
fancy here
in this account
fairly normal birth
so what's the
big deal?
How does this
birth bring glory
to God
in the highest
and peace
among those
with whom the
Lord is pleased?
Well I think
most if not all
of us
are very very
acquainted
with the glorious
truth of us
but it is good
to be reminded
so let's let the
scripture do that.
So now really
getting into
our point
of how it brings
us peace with God.
We follow the
narrative a little
bit through Luke
we see Jesus
grow up
we see Jesus
at age 12
in the temple
answering questions
and asking questions
and the teachers
are amazed
at his understanding
and his answers
and we see
something beautiful
I believe
if you flip over
to Luke 3
where John the Baptist
is preparing the way
for Jesus' ministry
and he says
sweet words
found in Isaiah 40
recorded here
in verses 4-6
says
the voice of one
crying in the wilderness
prepare the way
of the Lord
make his path straight
every valley
shall be filled
and every mountain
and hill
shall be made low
and the crooked
shall become straight
and the rough places
shall become level ways
and all flesh
shall see the salvation
of God.
So John is preparing
the way
ushering something
new in
all flesh
shall see the salvation
of God
that's huge
later on the chapter
he explains
that he's baptizing
with water
but there's one coming
that he's not even
worthy to untie
his sandals
and he will baptize
with the Holy Spirit
and with fire.
So there's something
new coming
and this new thing
that's coming
is coming through
this boy
who was just born
Jesus.
So looking a little bit
further into Luke
we see Jesus
being tempted
of the devil
and we see Jesus
strongly rebuke
the devil
as someone with
authority
and with power.
We then see him
begin his ministry
preaching good news
preaching repent
for the kingdom
of heaven
is at hand.
And there's remarks
all the time
of this Jesus
is preaching
with authority
and not like
the typical teachers.
But then I believe
one of the most
astounding things
about the accounts
of Jesus' life
is that he never
gives in to temptation.
Never gives in
to temptation.
In fact
in describing
Jesus' life
the author of Hebrews
says this
in chapter 4
verse 15
for we do not
have a high priest
who is unable
to sympathize
with our weaknesses
but one who is
in every respect
has been tempted
as we are
yet he's without sin.
He never gave in
to temptation.
And so going through
the accounts
of Jesus' life
he offended many.
After all
he spoke with
the authority
of God.
He spoke with
the authority
to forgive sins
and to call out sin
which he did so
quite frequently
and did not
back down from
at all.
And ultimately
people were so
offended
and so hardened
in their own ways
that they decided
that instead of
having what we
would now think
of as the worst
type of criminal
killed
they would have
that man freed
but would have
Jesus crucified.
And now this
Jesus was crucified
and in fact
he died.
But then three days
later he rose
from the dead.
And this isn't
some myth
that we like to tell
especially during
this time of year
but he appeared
to many witnesses.
So what does
this matter
for our peace?
Why were we
not at peace
before?
So to answer
that question
turn with me
to Romans 5.
Romans 5.
So here in Romans 5
I would like to look
at the first
11 verses
and unpack
just a bit of
what it has
to say here.
Pick it up
in verse 1
of Romans chapter 5.
It says
Therefore since
we've been justified
by faith
we have peace
with the God
through our Lord
Jesus Christ.
Through him
we have also
obtained access
by faith
into this grace
in which we stand
and we rejoice
in hope of the glory
of God.
Not only that
but we rejoice
in our sufferings
knowing that
suffering produces
endurance
and endurance
produces character
and character
produces hope
and hope does not
put us to shame
because God's love
has been poured
into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit
who has been given
to us.
For while we are
still weak
at the right time
Christ died
for the ungodly
for one will scarcely
die for a righteous
person
though perhaps
for a good person
one would dare
even to die
but God shows
his love for us
in that while we
were still sinners
Christ died for us
since therefore
we have now been
justified by his blood
much more
shall we be saved
by him
from the wrath
of God
for if while
we were enemies
we were reconciled
to God
by the death
of his son
much more
now that we
are reconciled
shall we be
saved by his life
more than that
we also rejoice
in God
through our Lord
Jesus Christ
through whom
we have now
received reconciliation
so I'm very aware
that this is a very
packed passage
and it's not my
goal this morning
to completely
unpack everything
but there's some
really important things
about our piece here
that I want to talk
about
so I'm going to
somewhat work it
from the middle
end area
back to the beginning
so let's look back
at verses 6-8
it says
for while we were
still weak
at the right time
Christ died
for the ungodly
for one will
scarcely die
for a righteous
person
though perhaps
for a good person
one would dare
even to die
but God
shows his love
for us
and that while
we were still
sinners
Christ died
for us
note a couple
of things
in these verses
okay
Paul describes
us as weak
and as sinners
I think he's being
honestly kind of
nice there
elsewhere
where we're
described as
dead
as dead
in our sins
unable to do
anything good
we're described
as not being
righteous
completely
unable
for any good
work
never seeking
for God
always turning
away
worthless
now Paul is
stating that
even with us
in that state
Christ died
for us
he didn't die
for an innocent
child
he didn't die
for a
lovely woman
he didn't die
for a strong
and loving
man
he died
for sinners
he died
for the ungodly
he died
for us
while we were
in that state
of never
seeking him
and always
railing against
him
never turning
away from
our sin
and in fact
not even
being able
to turn
away from
our sin
we were
worthless
but he died
for us
in that state
and we could
talk about
what great
love that is
for hours
but I don't
want to steal
next week's
sermon
but what I do
want to talk
about is how
that death
brought us
peace
now we believe
that God
is altogether
righteous
and altogether
holy
he cannot
tolerate sin
sin must be
punished or
otherwise he
would not be
righteous or
holy
think about the
realities of sin
for any length
of time and
as Lord gives
you grace to
see it
we will truly
see it that it
is that horrible
so if this is
the case
if it's the
case that God
is truly
altogether
righteous
altogether
holy
and we
are worthless
and always
turning to
sin
we should
not be
able to
be in his
presence
we should
be damned
to punishment
forever and
that's rightful
but here in
verse 1
Paul states
that through
faith in
Jesus life
death
resurrection
we can
have peace
with God
the angels
back in Luke
proclaimed glory
to God
in the highest
and on earth
peace among
those with whom
he is pleased
so how does
that work
how can this
work with the
reality of the
depth of our
sinfulness and
the depth of the
Lord's righteousness
and holiness
let's go back to
this person of
Jesus
we said this person
of Jesus lived
the perfect life
was tempted just
as we were
but yet did not
sin
but was crucified
suffered a sinner's
death but three
days later he
rose again
then look down at
verse 9
it says since
therefore we have
now been justified
by his blood
much more shall
we be saved by
him from the
wrath of God
for if while
we were enemies
were reconciled
to God by
the death of
his son
much more
now that we
are reconciled
shall we be
saved by his
life
more than that
we also rejoice
in God through
our Lord Jesus
Christ through
whom we have
now received
reconciliation
as we've been
justified by his
blood and saved
from the wrath
of God
and for even
more clarification
in verse 1
it says we are
justified by our
faith in his
life death
resurrection
so putting all
that together
through our
Lord Jesus
and putting faith
in his blood
shed on our
behalf on the
cross
he lived that
perfect life
the life that
we should have
lived but have
never been
capable of
but he suffered
the death for
our sins
so that when
God sees us
he does not see
our filthy
nasty
worthless
sin but he
sees Christ's
righteousness
and his blood
shed on our
behalf
and that's the
heart of our
faith
and because of
this the great
work of our
Savior's birth
life death
resurrection
we have peace
with God
no more need
to prove
ourselves to
God
number one
because we
can't
and number
two because
Christ has
already done
the work for
us
Christ has
already done
the work for
us
so that brings
us to our
next point
how our
Savior's birth
life death
and resurrection
brings us
peace with
ourselves
how our
Savior's birth
life death
and resurrection
brings us
peace with
ourselves
like I said
earlier I think
many of us
hold ourselves
to really
really high
standards
I think we
often feel the
need that we
must prove
ourselves to
ourselves
we set
really lofty
goals
and get so
angry at
ourselves
when we
can't meet
them
whether they
be spiritual
or just
typical goals
when we
fail to
meet those
goals we
get frustrated
we can
get really
down on
ourselves
even hate
ourselves
I must
confess that
that is
really often
where I
find myself
never quite
living up
to the
goals I
have for
myself as
a follower
of Christ
as a
husband
as a
church
member
and as
a teacher
I believe
many of
us can
very easily
begin to
believe
lies that
we will
lose God's
affection
if we're
going through
a rough
patch
spiritually
or not
living up
to how
we see
our roles
working out
but let's
think about
that idea
for a bit
all of our
striving
all of our
work
all of our
pressing on
all of our
trying to be
the very best
that we can
be
all of our
so often
trying to
be God
whether that
be intentional
or unintentional
what is that
compared to
all our
righteousness
is compared
to filthy
racks
apart from the
saving work of
Christ we can
do nothing
good
and you may
say that
doesn't help
me feel
peace about
myself at
all and
it doesn't
me either
but
we keep
tracking a
little bit
earlier we
concluded all
those things
that yeah
we're filthy
sinners who
are worthless
yeah
but we also
concluded that
somehow we
have peace
with God
is this
peace with
God coming
from how
well we
work spiritually
coming from
how well
we are
doing in
our roles
whatever those
may be
not at all
yes we can
do nothing
good without
Christ
but we have
been given
God's love
he's shown us
such great love
that even while
we were sinners
railing against
him he died
for us
when the Lord
sees us he no
longer sees
our sin he
sees the
finished work
of Christ
now God is
the person
who controls
our ultimate
destiny it's
not up to
us it's up
to him and
because of
this we are
justified
reconciled
accepted in
sight and
that's what
matters
to go off of
our theme
that we missed
last week I
think that
should bring us
great joy that
it's not not
up to us having
peace with God
and not just
that but being
welcomed into
the Lord's
family it's not
up to us and
if that's the
case we
shouldn't let
our failings
overly frustrate
us or even
turn to hatred
of ourself but
instead we should
marvel at the
grace shown to
us in the Lord
while we were yet
sinners and even
now as we still
struggle so much
sometimes he's
shown great love
to us so yes
we should be
constantly in a
process of
acknowledging our
failings but then
taking our minds
off that and
marveling on the
great love of
Christ shown to
us to forget
about ourselves
more and more
and to dwell on
Christ yes we
have failed and
we still fail but
our Lord has begun
the work and he
has promised he
will complete it
I think Paul
expresses this idea
really really really
well at the end
of Romans 7
turn with me
there just over to
Romans 7
I remember
going through a
certain part of
my walk with the
Lord a few years
back and I just
kept coming back to
this passage over
and over and over
being frustrated with
my own actions and
I think Paul says it
well so picking up in
verse 15 here
says for I do not
understand my own
actions for I do
not do what I want
but I do the very
thing that I hate
now if I do what I
do not want I agree
with the law that it
is good so now it is
no longer I who do
it but sin that
dwells within me for
I know that nothing
good dwells in me that
is in my flesh for I
have the desire to do
what is right but not
the ability to carry
it out for I do not
do the good I want but
the evil I do not
want is what I keep
on doing now if I do
what I do not want it
is no longer I who
do it but sin that
dwells within me so I
find it to be a law
that when I want to
do right evil lies
close at hand for I
delight in the law of
God and my inner
being but I see in
my members another
law waging war against
the law of my mind
and making me captive
to the law of sin that
dwells in my members
wretched man that I
am who will deliver me
from this body of
death thanks be to
God through Jesus
Christ our Lord so
then I myself serve
the law of God with
my mind but with my
flesh I serve the law
of sin I think this
idea we just talked
about is exactly what
Paul is talking about
so often I believe we
find ourselves really
enjoying the gospel but
then so quickly our
affections being turned
towards sin but look at
the ending praise to
God that he will
ultimately deliver us
from this body of
death so we should be
at peace with ourselves
and not constantly
feeling down about our
failings but feeling
the joy of Christ's
work so that brings us
to our third point
how our Savior's
birth life death
and resurrection
brings us peace with
others how our
Savior's birth life
death and resurrection
brings us peace with
others we mentioned
earlier when discussing
the felt need to prove
ourselves to others
that we so often want
to compare ourselves to
others we try to look
at each other's
struggles and think oh
I'm I'm not that bad
or we tend to look at
what we're doing for
the Lord and then look
at what our brothers
and sisters are doing
for the Lord and get
some sort of sick
satisfaction of thinking
that we do more so we
must be better off or
we want to show others
how busy we are and
how committed we are and
how because of this
somehow our thinking
tells us that we're
better followers of
Christ we want others
to see our own work
brothers and sisters
none of these are
gospel mindsets none
of these bring glory to
the work of Christ and
all of these try to take
the glory that the work
of Christ deserves and
put it on something that
we've already concluded is
worthless and so with
that as we truly
understand the gospel of
who we are in Christ
what he has taken us
from of the depths of
our sin then understand
why he chose us of
simply his grace I
think we as believers
see that we're all
really in the same boat
we were all sinners we're
all in a state of
spiritual death we all
needed new birth but I
think we so often
struggle with the idea
of subtly thinking that
oh I've never done
anything like they've
done I'm better off or
sometimes we either
intentionally or
unintentionally end up
thinking that we've
always done good works
or that we don't need the
Lord's grace as much as
the next guy or why did
the Lord save them when
they've done such bad
things and all these
sound awful like we
would never think these
things but that is what
we're doing when we're
comparing ourselves to
others it's exactly what
we're doing and so we
have to be vigilant
against these mindsets as
they so often creep in
we must remember that
all of us every single
one of us has committed
an infinite trespass
against a holy God and
we're so all of us are
fully deserving of death
and hell and we're given
a grace to not be sent
there right now so how
does that bring us peace
with others we have no
room for boasting
salvation is all based on
grace and undeserved
kindness so all our
boasting must stop we
all need the Lord if the
Lord counted trespasses
against us who could
stand no one right we
all have that flesh that
still tries to creep in to
destroy us to distract us
from the good work the
Lord's giving us and only
the Lord will deliver us
from that body of death
none of our striving it's
the Lord's work but so
often we carry around the
sense of some sort of
spiritual pride thinking
that we do the most good
works of anybody around
us or that we avoid more
sin than most but when we
truly understand our
position of being saved
completely by grace alone
through faith alone in the
work of Christ and nothing
of ourselves alone that
there's no good in
ourselves apart from his
work our pride and our
boasting should be gone
entirely gone we have no
grounds for it and as it
goes away we can have the
great peace and harmony that
the Lord has called us to
with each other with our
brothers and sisters
working together as one
body for the Lord just one
more quick thing on this
point to demonstrate the
reality of how ridiculous our
pride can be sometimes I
want to share a song that I
believe demonstrates its
ugliness if you grew up in a
very traditional country-ish
type church you might
recognize these lyrics what I
want you to pay attention to
is the level of pride that it
communicates and then the
realization of that in the
end I'll probably get made fun
of for quoting this one later
but but I really think like
this communicates the
ugliness of pride and the
reality of it's I guess not
having any sort of base and
it's simple but it's good it
says I thought number one would
surely be me I thought I could
do what I wanted to do excuse
me I thought I could be what I
wanted to be I thought I could
build on life sinking sand but
now I can't even walk without
you holding my hand I thought I
could do a lot on my own I
thought I could make it all the
day long I thought of myself as a
mighty big man but Lord I can't
even walk without you holding my
hand so often we try to take
credit and take pride in the
things that the Lord is giving us
to walk in this tears down our
thinking about the gospel we
forget that any good thing that
we're able to do is a sweet grace
to us and yet another thing our
pride tears down the relationship
we have with our brothers and
sisters who make up the church
so let's remember the gospel the
good news that yes we can do
nothing but even while we're in
that Christ showed his great love
to us and that he gave us his
great salvation by paying the
ultimate price of a sinner's death
and bearing the wrath of God for our
sins let that reality rule our minds
and there will be no room for pride
left we'll have so much more room
for peace with our brothers and
sisters I believe that's the number
one thing that can tear that down
now we've we've talked about the
realities of peace that the Lord has
ushered in at this point we've
talked about how our Savior's birth
life death and resurrection has
brought us peace with God peace with
ourselves and peace with others but
how do we maintain this how do we
hold on to this peace and what does
it look like can we have it all the
time I want to look at one more
passage before we close to turn with
me to Philippians 4 Philippians 4 I
think this or maybe Ephesians 2 is
probably the most common passage used
to talk about this and I think
rightfully so so I want to look at
verses 4 through 13 here in
Philippians 4 picking up in verse 4 it
says rejoice in the Lord always again I
will say rejoice let your reasonableness
be known to everyone the Lord is at
hand do not be anxious about anything
but in everything by prayer and
supplication with Thanksgiving let your
request be made known to God and the
peace of God which surpasses all
understanding will guard your hearts
in your minds in Christ Jesus finally
brothers whatever is true whatever is
honorable whatever is just whatever is
pure whatever is lovely whatever is
commendable if there is any excellence
there is anything worthy of praise think
about these things what you have learned
and received and heard and seen in me
practice excuse me practice these things
and the God of peace will be with you I
rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at
length you've revived your concern for
me you were indeed concerned for me but
you had no opportunity not that I'm
speaking of being in need for I've
learned in whatever situation I am to
be content I know how to be brought low
and I know how to abound in any and
every circumstance I've learned the
secret of placing facing plenty and
hunger abundance in need I can do all
things through him who strengthens me so
in closing a couple of things to note when
Paul is talking about this piece that
surpasses all understanding he describes
being able to have it in any
circumstances and as verses just below
it he says that he has learned in
whatever situation he is in to be
content he can have peace no matter
what is going on around him now why is
this is he some sort of super
Christian that had special powers that
he can do it he can have peace no
matter what but we can't do it
absolutely not he's able to be at
peace by doing what he says right
here by setting his mind look at verse
eight finally brothers whatever is
true whatever is honorable whatever is
just whatever is pure whatever is
lovely whatever is commendable if there's
any excellence if there's anything
worthy of praise think about these
things he's setting his mind and that
is how he's able to keep peace no
matter what's going on around him
sets his mind on the things that are
actually worthy of praise he doesn't
get caught up in comparing himself to
others he doesn't get caught up in
wallowing about in a sin but he sets his
mind on the great hope we have in
Christ he's thankful he takes
everything to the Lord in prayer he
rejoices in the Lord
what a friend we have in Jesus all our
sins and griefs to bear what a privilege
to carry everything to God in prayer just
like it says here oh what peace we often
forfeit oh what needless pain we bear all
because we do not carry everything to God
in care in prayer we can take our anxieties
to the Lord we can set our minds on the
things that are true that are honorable
that are just that are pure that are
lovely that are actually commendable and
excellent and truly worthy of praise and
now as we set our mindsets on the
gospel always vigilant to battle the
pride or the opposite the self-hate and
the disbelief that comes in we can have
true peace through our Lord no more
trying to prove ourselves to him and
we're trying to prove ourselves to
ourselves he's done the work and to
ultimately say that we are his so thus
far I've spoken about a peace that is
here a peace that can be had now but
even better than that brothers and
sisters our true life and eternity our
peace will no longer have to be fought
for we will have it and it will be with
us forever a whole sermon could be
preached on that peace but time so when
we're struggling when the cares of the
world try to choke out our peace when
unbelievers scoff at the gospel when
we are down when we are just struggling
so much we can set our hope on the
promise of such a great eternity when
we'll be in perfect peace and thus have
such great hope such great joy such
great peace now as we look toward that
ultimate full development so grab your
bulletin grab your bulletin
there's a quote on it from william
guernal who's a 17th century english
theologian i think it communicates this
reality super well
says therefore you who think so basely
of the gospel and the professors of it
because at present their peace and
comfort are not come should know that it
is on the way to them and comes to stay
everlastingly with them whereas your
peace is going from you every moment and
is sure to leave you without any hope of
returning to you again look not how the
christian begins but how he ends so let's
pray
and