The Peace of
Christmas
Micah 5:1-5 and Matt.
2:1-18
Intro: Can there ever really be
peace on earth good will to men?
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- In
3100 years of history only 286
have been warless
- 8000
treaties have been broken
- we’ve
seen wars and rumors of wars all
over the place
What about personal
peace?
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- Peace
at work, at home , inner peace,
financial peace
- Can
Christmas hope still deliver
peace?
You see the hope of
Christmas and the Christmas story we have become
used to is a journey
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- A
journey to the peace of Christmas
- Where
did this journey start?
- With
the Birth of Jesus Matt 2:1-18
The Magi started our
journey Tells of 4 things on the birth of Jesus
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- Was
for Jew and Gentile alike
- Shepherds
were Jews
- Magi
were Gentiles
- Magi
came from the east
- They
studied scripture to get here Num
24:17
- Magi
were first to worship Jesus as
King
- Star
and Scripture
- Guided
them to the Christ
- Baby
& King
- Born
in a manger or cave was poor
- For
many this is the Christmas story
- They
don’t let Jesus grow up
- Keep
him in the manager in the crib
- What
He became is important not His
birth
- Joy
and sorrow
- Magi
joyful, they found the King
- One
foretold by early scriptures
- Bethlehem
in sorrow
- Herod
killed the boys 2 and under
- Jeremiah
predicted this: Jer 31:15
- Jesus
grew up a man of sorrows, yet the
Giver of Joy
The Magi returned
home-----changed forever
-
-
- Even
to the point of going a different
route
- Angel
warned to avoid Herod
Our journey starts
with Jesus birth
-
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- And
why He came—to die for our
sins --- a gift of the Father to
us
- On
this day we contemplate all that
God has done for us
- Throughout
history and time
- His
gift expressed in the 12 days of
christmas
-
-
- Is
the 12 days of Christmas until
Epiphany Jan 6 so goes from Dec
25th till Jan 6th
Has
it start in the liturgical church
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- Epiphany
time when 3 wise men
presented gifts to Christ
Matt 2:1-12
- Hispanics/
Latinos call it 3 Kings
Day or Day of the Kings
The
song
-
-
-
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- Usually
considered a goofy kids
song
- May have
roots in 16th
cen religious wars
- To teach
children basics of the
Faith
- The
"true love" was
God and the
"me" was all
the saved baptized
persons
- No strong
evidence to proof or
disprove this urban
legend
- Should not
prevent us from using the
song
- Many
symbols of Christianity
were not religious at the
start even the date of
Christmas
- Point is
historical accuracy is
not important, what is
now when we hear this
song we will be reminded
of God and His grace
- Transforming
lifes—isn’t
that one more thing that
Christmas is about
The
lyrics:
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- On the 1st
day of Christmas my true
love gave to me:
- A
Partridge in a pear tree:
- Jesus is
the partridge the
motherly partridge that
feigns injury to decoy
predators Luke 13:34
How often would I have
sheltered you under my
wings as a hen does her
chicks, but you would not
have it so….
- On the 2nd
day of Christmas my true
love gave to me:
- Two
turtle doves
- The OT and
NT Gods self revelation
in history and his story.
- On the 3rd
day of Christmas my true
love gave to me:
- Three
French hens
- 3
theological values,
Faith, hope and love Cor
13:13
- On the 4th
day of Christmas my true
love gave to me:
- Four
Calling Birds
- Matthew,
mark, Luke & John
which proclaim the Goods
News
- On the 5th
day of Christmas my true
love gave to me:
- Five
Gold Rings
- The first 5
books of the Bible
- The history
of humanity and failure
and Gods grace in the
creation and light of the
world
- On the 6th
day of Christmas my true
love gave to me:
- Six
geese a laying
- The 6 days
of creation that tells of
God as creator and
sustainer Gen 1
- On the 7th
day of Christmas my true
love gave to me:
- Seven
swans a swimming
- The seven
gifts of the Holy Spirit:
prophecy,ministry,
teaching, exhoting,
giving, leading &
compassion Rom 12:6-8
1Cor 12: 8-11
- On the 8th
day of Christmas my true
love gave to me:
- Eight
Maids a milking
- The 8
Beatitudes: blessed are;
1 those poor in spirit,
those who mourn, those
who hunger & thirst
for righteousness, the
merciful, the pure in
heart , the peacemakers ,
those who are persecuted
for righteousness sake,
when they say evil
against you falsely for
My names sake
- On the 9th
day of Christmas my true
love gave to me:
- Nine
ladies dancing
- The fruit
of the Holy Spirit: love,
joy, peace, patience,
kindness, generosity,
faithfulness, gentleness
and self-control
- On the 10th
day of Christmas my true
love gave to me:
- Ten
lords a leaping
- The 10
commandements: no other
gods before me, no idols,
don’t use Gods name
in vain, remember the
Sabbath, honor mother
& father, don’t
murder (kill), don’t
do adultery, don’t
steal, don’t bear
false witness, don’t
covet Exo. 20:1-17
- On the 11th
day of Christmas my true
love gave to me:
- Eleven
pipers piping
- The 11
faithful disciples: Simon
Peter, Andrew, James,
John, Philip,
Bartholomew, Matthew,
Thomas, James bar
Alphaeus, Simon the
Zealot, Judas bar James .
Luke 6: 14-16 Judas
Iscariot not here he
brtrayed Jesus
- On the 12th
day of Christmas my true
love gave to me:
- 12
drummers drumming
- The twelve
points of the Apostles
Creed: 1-I believe in God
Father almighty, maker of
heaven & earth, 2) I
believe in Jesus Christ
His only Son our Lord, 3)
He was concieved by power
of the Holy Spirit and
born of the virgin Mary,
4) he suffered under
Pontius Pilate was
crucified, died and was
buried, 5) on the 3rd
day he rose again, he
ascended into Heaven
& is seated at the
right hand of the Father,
6) he will come again to
judge the living and the
dead, 7) I believe in the
Holy Spirit, 8) the holy
church universal, 9) the
communion of
saints-fellowship-,
10)the forgiveness of
sins, 11)the
ressurrection of the body
, 12) life everlasting.
So in the song we
see how God delt with man
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- and
how he was loving and just.
- How
he provided everything for us
- How
He told us the story of Himself
- How
He provided for our peace on
earth good will to men
Just as the angels
proclaimed to the shepherds Luke 2:10-14
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- They
found Him in Bethelem
- Told
Mary & Joseph what the angel
said
- They
made known what was told them
- The
shepherds were 1st
traveling evangelists
- But
Mary kept all these things and
pondered them in her heart
- As
we should as we think on what
Jesus did
- As
we celebrate His birthday
As we think about
the peace He brought
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- Peace
thru forgiveness
- He
came for our sins
- To
reconnect us back to God
- That
was Gods gift to us
3 truths of
Jesus’ peace
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- Its
above circumstances
- Happiness
depends on circumstances
- Can
be unhappy but at peace----we are
safe in His hands
- Nothing
can separate us from His love
- Its
beyond understanding
- Phil
4:7 the peace that passes all
understanding
- Explains
how you can be broke busted and
disgusted and at peace
- Rise
above your circumstances
- Its
always available
- Thru
the Holy Spirit
- Was
Jesus’ promise before He
left
- Can
get it 24/7—just ask!
He came to bring you
peace. Do you have it. Ask Him, come to Him
receive it.We
celebrate His birthday but it was Him that gave
the greatest gift of all.
Invitation